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.
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