HBA-MPA H.B. 118 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 118 By: Keel Criminal Jurisprudence 2/3/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Accounts from law enforcement personnel have indicated that the elderly are vulnerable to particular kinds of crime. H.B. 118 raises the punishment prescribed for a number of offenses when committed against an elderly person to the next highest category of offense. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 12D, Penal Code, by adding Section 12.48, as follows: Sec. 12.48. PENALTY IF CERTAIN OFFENSES COMMITTED AGAINST ELDERLY INDIVIDUAL. Provides that, if an elderly person, defined as a person 65 years of age or older in Section 22.04 (Injury to a Child, Elderly Individual, or Disabled Individual), Penal Code, is the victim of certain enumerated offenses, the punishment for the offense is increased to the punishment prescribed for the next highest category of offense. For a Class A misdemeanor perpetrated against an elderly person, the minimum term of confinement is increased to 180 days. SECTION 2. Makes the application of this Act prospective. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 4. Emergency clause.