SRC-SLL H.B. 1713 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterH.B. 1713
76R9259 GWK-DBy: Ellis, Dan (Ogden)
Criminal Justice
5/3/1999
Engrossed


DIGEST 

Currently, most attempts to prosecute inmates for the throwing of bodily
secretions must be treated as a misdemeanor offense. Such punishment
provides little deterrent to prison inmates, and in fact, most prosecutors
will not purse misdemeanor charges against an inmate. H.B. 1713  would
provide that an offense is committed if a person harasses individuals
imprisoned or confined in adult or juvenile correctional facilities, in a
certain manner.  

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 1713 provides that an offense is committed if a person
harasses individuals imprisoned or confined in adult or juvenile
correctional facilities.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 22, Penal Code, by adding Section 22.11, as
follows: 

Sec. 22.11. HARASSMENT BY PERSONS IN CERTAIN CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES.
Provides that a person commits an offense, if the person imprisoned in
certain correctional facilities with intent to harass, alarm, or annoy
another person, causes the other person to contact the blood, seminal
fluid, urine, or feces of the actor or any other persons. Provides that
certain offenses are committed under this section.   

SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 4. Emergency clause.