By Davis                                              H.B. No. 1635
       74R4707 NSC-D
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to creating the offenses of transferring a paging device
    1-3  to a minor and purchasing a paging device by a minor.
    1-4        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-5        SECTION 1.  Title 10, Penal Code, is amended by adding
    1-6  Chapter 50 to read as follows:
    1-7                      CHAPTER 50.  PAGING DEVICES
    1-8        Sec. 50.01.  DEFINITIONS.  In this chapter:
    1-9              (1)  "Minor" means a person younger than 18 years of
   1-10  age.
   1-11              (2)  "Paging device" means a telecommunications device
   1-12  that emits an audible signal, vibrates, displays a message, or
   1-13  otherwise summons or delivers a communication to the possessor.
   1-14        Sec. 50.02.  TRANSFER TO MINOR PROHIBITED.  (a)  A person
   1-15  commits an offense if the person:
   1-16              (1)  sells or rents a paging device to a minor; or
   1-17              (2)  gives or loans a paging device to a minor knowing
   1-18  that the minor intends to use the device unlawfully or in the
   1-19  commission of an unlawful act.
   1-20        (b)  An offense under this section is a Class B misdemeanor.
   1-21        Sec. 50.03.  PURCHASE OR RENTAL BY MINOR PROHIBITED.  (a)  A
   1-22  minor commits an offense if the minor purchases or rents a paging
   1-23  device.
   1-24        (b)  An offense under this section is a Class B misdemeanor.
    2-1        SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1995.
    2-2        SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
    2-3  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
    2-4  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
    2-5  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
    2-6  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.