By Lewis of Orange                                    H.B. No. 2331
       74R5676 GWK-D
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to the creation of the offense of preventing execution of
    1-3  civil process.
    1-4        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-5        SECTION 1.  Chapter 38, Penal Code, is amended by adding
    1-6  Section 38.16 to read as follows:
    1-7        Sec. 38.16.  PREVENTING EXECUTION OF CIVIL PROCESS.   (a)  A
    1-8  person commits an offense if he intentionally or knowingly by words
    1-9  or physical action prevents the execution of any process in a civil
   1-10  cause.
   1-11        (b)  It is an exception to the application of this section
   1-12  that the actor evaded service of process by avoiding detection.
   1-13        (c)  An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor.
   1-14        SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1995.
   1-15        SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
   1-16  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   1-17  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   1-18  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   1-19  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.