By Van de Putte H.B. No. 2379
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the theft of public assistance benefits obtained
1-3 through the electronic benefits transfer system.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Section 31.01(5) and (6), Penal Code, are amended
1-6 to read as follows:
1-7 (5) "Appropriate" means:
1-8 (A) to bring about a transfer or purported
1-9 transfer of title to or other nonpossessory interest in property,
1-10 whether to the actor or another; or
1-11 (B) to acquire or otherwise exercise control
1-12 over property other than real property; or
1-13 (C) to bring about the transfer of assistance
1-14 benefits issued by a governmental entity, as provided in Subtitle
1-15 C, Title 2, Human Resources Code, by electronic means.
1-16 (6) "Property" means:
1-17 (A) real property;
1-18 (B) tangible or intangible personal property
1-19 including anything severed from land; <or>
1-20 (C) a document, including money, that represents
1-21 or embodies anything of value; or
1-22 (D) assistance benefits issued by a governmental
1-23 entity, as provided by Subtitle C, Title 2, Human Resources Code,
2-1 including such benefits that are transferred electronically.
2-2 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1993.
2-3 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
2-4 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-5 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-6 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-7 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.