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.