ACM S.B. 143 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


CRIMINAL JURISPRUDENCE
S.B. 143
By: Harris (Keel)
5-15-97
Committee Report (Unamended)


BACKGROUND 

Currently, Texas law provides that it is a Class A misdemeanor if a person
is convicted of cruelty to animals.  It is hoped that increasing the
penalty will deter incidents involving cruelty to animals. This bill will
increase the punishment to a state jail felony if the person has
previously been convicted two times of cruelty to animals. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 143 increases the punishment for the offense of cruelty
to animals if a person has previously been convicted twice of cruelty to
animals. 

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. Amends Section 42.09(d), Penal Code, to provide that a person
commits a Class A misdemeanor if the person is cruel to an animal, except
that the person commits a state jail felony if the person has previously
been convicted twice of cruelty to animals. 

SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1997.

SECTION 4. Emergency clause.