AN ACT

 1-1     relating to the punishment for the offense of unlawful restraint.

 1-2           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-3           SECTION 1.  (a)  The chapter heading to Chapter 20, Penal

 1-4     Code, is amended to read as follows:

 1-5               CHAPTER 20.  KIDNAPPING AND UNLAWFUL RESTRAINT

 1-6                            [FALSE IMPRISONMENT]

 1-7           (b)  The section heading to Section 20.02, Penal Code, is

 1-8     amended to read as follows:

 1-9           Sec. 20.02.  UNLAWFUL RESTRAINT [FALSE IMPRISONMENT].

1-10           SECTION 2.  Subsection (c), Section 20.02, Penal Code, is

1-11     amended to read as follows:

1-12           (c)  An offense under this section is a Class B misdemeanor

1-13     unless:

1-14                 (1)  the person restrained was a child younger than 14

1-15     years of age, in which event the offense is a Class A misdemeanor;

1-16     or

1-17                 (2)  the actor recklessly exposes the victim to a

1-18     substantial risk of serious bodily injury, in which event it is a

1-19     felony of the third degree.                            

1-20           SECTION 3.  (a)  The change in law made by this Act applies

1-21     only to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this

1-22     Act.  For purposes of this section, an offense is committed before

1-23     the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurs

 2-1     before the effective date.

 2-2           (b)  An offense committed before the effective date of this

 2-3     Act is covered by the law in effect when the offense was committed,

 2-4     and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.

 2-5           SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

 2-6           SECTION 5.  The importance of this legislation and the

 2-7     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

 2-8     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 2-9     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

2-10     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.

         _______________________________     _______________________________

             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House

               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1835 passed the Senate on

         May 5, 1997, by a viva-voce vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Secretary of the Senate

               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1835 passed the House on

         May 21, 1997, by a non-record vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House

         Approved:

         _______________________________

                     Date

         _______________________________

                   Governor