AEZ C.S.S.B. 329 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS CRIMINAL JURISPRUDENCE C.S.S.B. 329 By: Brown (Torres) 4-2-97 Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND Currently, it is not a criminal offense under the Texas Penal code to give a false statement to a law enforcement employee conducting an investigation if that employee is not a peace officer. This legislation makes it a criminal offense to intentionally give false information to any law enforcement personnel conducting an investigation. PURPOSE As proposed, C.S.S.B. 329 establishes the offense of making a false report to a peace officer or to an employee of a law enforcement agency. 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 37.08, Penal Code, as follows: Sec. 37.08. New heading: FALSE REPORT TO PEACE OFFICER OR LAW ENFORCEMENT EMPLOYEE. Provides that a person commits a Class B misdemeanor if, with intent to deceive, the person knowingly makes a false statement that is material to a criminal investigation and makes the statement to a peace officer or any employee of a law enforcement agency that is authorized by the agency to conduct the investigation. Law enforcement agency has the same meaning that is assigned by Article 59.01, Code of Criminal Procedure. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1997. SECTION 3. Emergency clause. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE The original bill states that the false report is given to a peace officer. The substitute adds any employee of a law enforcement agency that is authorized by the agency to conduct the investigation.