HBA-BSM, EDN H.B. 1571 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1571
By: Haggerty
Criminal Jurisprudence
3/18/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Security officers who are on duty often undertake the same risks as police
officers.  However, current law does not penalize offenders of crimes
against security officers in the same manner as crimes against police
officers.  House Bill 1571 provides for equal punishment for certain crimes
against security officers as that for police officers.   

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 1571 amends the Penal Code to increase the punishments for
certain offenses if the offenses are committed against a commissioned
security officer (officer) while the officer is performing a duty as a
security officer and is wearing a distinctive uniform.  The bill increases
penalties for such  offenses to:  

_a capital felony for an offense of murder;

_a third degree felony for an offense of assault;

_a first degree felony for an offense of aggravated assault.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.