1-1 By: Lewis of Orange (Senate Sponsor - Gallegos) H.B. No. 2331 1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House May 12, 1995; 1-3 May 15, 1995, read first time and referred to Committee on 1-4 Jurisprudence; May 24, 1995, reported favorably by the following 1-5 vote: Yeas 7, Nays 0; May 24, 1995, sent to printer.) 1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-7 AN ACT 1-8 relating to the creation of the offense of preventing execution of 1-9 civil process. 1-10 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-11 SECTION 1. Chapter 38, Penal Code, is amended by adding 1-12 Section 38.16 to read as follows: 1-13 Sec. 38.16. PREVENTING EXECUTION OF CIVIL PROCESS. (a) A 1-14 person commits an offense if he intentionally or knowingly by words 1-15 or physical action prevents the execution of any process in a civil 1-16 cause. 1-17 (b) It is an exception to the application of this section 1-18 that the actor evaded service of process by avoiding detection. 1-19 (c) An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor. 1-20 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1995. 1-21 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 1-22 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-23 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 1-24 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 1-25 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended. 1-26 * * * * *