By Naishtat H.B. No. 1557
76R6282 GWK-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the punishment for the offense of terroristic threat.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Section 22.07, Penal Code, is amended by amending
1-5 Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
1-6 (b) An offense under Subdivision (1) or (2) of Subsection
1-7 (a) is a Class B misdemeanor, except that an offense under
1-8 Subdivision (2) of Subsection (a) is a Class A misdemeanor if the
1-9 offense is committed against a family member. An offense under
1-10 Subdivision (3) of Subsection (a) is a Class A misdemeanor. An
1-11 offense under Subdivision (4) of Subsection (a) is a felony of the
1-12 third degree.
1-13 (c) In this section, "family" has the meaning assigned by
1-14 Section 71.003, Family Code.
1-15 SECTION 2. (a) The change in law made by this Act applies
1-16 only to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this
1-17 Act. For purposes of this section, an offense is committed before
1-18 the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurs
1-19 before the effective date.
1-20 (b) An offense committed before the effective date of this
1-21 Act is covered by the law in effect when the offense was committed,
1-22 and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
1-23 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
1-24 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
2-1 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-2 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-3 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-4 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.