1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to certain prohibited activities in the food stamp

 1-3     program.

 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 33.011(d), Human Resources Code, is

 1-6     amended to read as follows:

 1-7           (d)  When cash, exchange value, or food stamp benefit permits

 1-8     of various values are obtained in violation of this section

 1-9     pursuant to one scheme or continuing course of conduct, whether

1-10     from the same or several sources, the conduct may be considered as

1-11     one offense and the values aggregated in determining the grade of

1-12     the offense.

1-13           SECTION 2.  (a)  The change in law made by this Act applies

1-14     only to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this

1-15     Act.  For purposes of this section, an offense is committed before

1-16     the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurs

1-17     before the effective date.

1-18           (b)  An offense committed before the effective date of this

1-19     Act is covered by the law in effect when the offense was committed,

1-20     and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.

1-21           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

1-22           SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-23     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-24     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 2-1     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

 2-2     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.

         _______________________________     _______________________________

             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 2685 was passed by the House on April

         25, 1997, by a non-record vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 2685 was passed by the Senate on May

         22, 1997, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Secretary of the Senate

         APPROVED:  _____________________

                            Date

                    _____________________

                          Governor