By Talton H.B. No. 2421 74R4050 GWK-F A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the punishment for repeat or habitual misdemeanor 1-3 offenders. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Sections 12.43(a) and (b), Penal Code, are 1-6 amended to read as follows: 1-7 (a) If it is shown on the trial of a Class A misdemeanor 1-8 that the defendant has been before convicted of a Class A 1-9 misdemeanor or any degree of felony, on conviction he shall be 1-10 punished by: 1-11 (1) a fine not to exceed $4,000; 1-12 (2) confinement in jail for any term of not more than 1-13 one year or less than 90 days; or 1-14 (3) both such fine and confinement. 1-15 (b) If it is shown on the trial of a Class B misdemeanor 1-16 that the defendant has been before convicted of a Class A or Class 1-17 B misdemeanor or any degree of felony, on conviction he shall be 1-18 punished by: 1-19 (1) a fine not to exceed $2,000; 1-20 (2) confinement in jail for any term of not more than 1-21 180 days or less than 30 days; or 1-22 (3) both such fine and confinement. 1-23 SECTION 2. (a) The change in law made by this Act applies 1-24 only to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this 2-1 Act. For purposes of this section, an offense is committed before 2-2 the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurs 2-3 before the effective date. 2-4 (b) An offense committed before the effective date of this 2-5 Act is covered by the law in effect when the offense was committed, 2-6 and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. 2-7 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1995. 2-8 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the 2-9 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-10 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-11 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-12 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.