1-1 By: Tillery, Wohlgemuth (Senate Sponsor - West) H.B. No. 943 1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House May 10, 1999; 1-3 May 10, 1999, read first time and referred to Committee on Criminal 1-4 Justice; May 14, 1999, reported favorably by the following vote: 1-5 Yeas 4, Nays 0; May 14, 1999, sent to printer.) 1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-7 AN ACT 1-8 relating to regulation of the use of laser pointers; providing a 1-9 criminal penalty. 1-10 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-11 SECTION 1. Chapter 42, Penal Code, is amended by adding 1-12 Section 42.13 to read as follows: 1-13 Sec. 42.13. USE OF LASER POINTERS. (a) A person commits an 1-14 offense if the person knowingly directs a light from a laser 1-15 pointer at a uniformed safety officer, including a peace officer, 1-16 security guard, fire fighter, emergency medical service worker, or 1-17 other uniformed municipal, state, or federal officer. 1-18 (b) In this section, "laser pointer" means a device that 1-19 emits a visible light amplified by the stimulated emission of 1-20 radiation. 1-21 (c) An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor. 1-22 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999. 1-23 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 1-24 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-25 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 1-26 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 1-27 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended. 1-28 * * * * *