GEC H.B. 2940 75(R) BILL ANALYSIS BUSINESS & INDUSTRY H.B. 2940 By: McCall 4-16-97 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND Current Texas Law is antiquated in that computers are absent from the definition of a "business machine". Police departments have had to respond to a rise in theft in the area of high tech equipment such as computers. This legislation will simply update a law written before the widespread commercial and personal use of computers thus allowing law enforcement officers to facilitate the recovery of stolen merchandise.. PURPOSE To update the definition of "business machine" to include computers or peripheral devices of computers. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS Section 1 Definition of business machine is updated to include computers and peripheral devices of a computer. Section 2 Changes in law made to this act apply on or after the effective date of this act. Section 3 Effective Date Section 4 Emergency Clause