HBA-AMW H.B. 322 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 322 By:Tillery Criminal Jurisprudence 4/12/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE More than a dozen school shootings around the country in the last five years have raised the public's awareness and concern regarding safety in both public and private schools. Although the legislature has taken steps to increase the safety of schools throughout the state, under current law, a murder committed in certain places associated with a public or private school or educational institution is not a capital offense. House Bill 322 adds a murder that takes place on school property, a school vehicle, or any grounds or building on which an activity sponsored by a school is being conducted to the list of capital offenses. 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 322 amends the Penal Code to provide that a person commits capital murder if the person murders an individual on the physical premises of a school or educational institution, any grounds or building on which an activity sponsored by a school or educational institution is being conducted, or a passenger transportation vehicle of a school or educational institution, regardless of whether the school or educational institution is public or private. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.