By Pitts H.B. No. 576 74R1721 DD-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the presumption of theft by check. 1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-4 SECTION 1. Section 31.06, Penal Code, is amended by adding 1-5 Subsection (f) to read as follows: 1-6 (f) In this section, "owner of property" includes the holder 1-7 of the dishonored check or order who exchanged goods, money, or 1-8 services for the check or order. 1-9 SECTION 2. (a) The change in law made by this Act applies 1-10 only to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this 1-11 Act. For purposes of this section, an offense is committed before 1-12 the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurs 1-13 before that date. 1-14 (b) An offense committed before the effective date of this 1-15 Act is covered by the law in effect when the offense was committed, 1-16 and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. 1-17 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1995. 1-18 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the 1-19 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-20 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 1-21 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 1-22 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.