1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to creating the offense of stealing or receiving a stolen
 1-3     check or sight order.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Penal Code, is amended
 1-6     by adding Section 32.24 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 32.24.  STEALING OR RECEIVING STOLEN CHECK OR SIMILAR
 1-8     SIGHT ORDER.  (a)  A person commits an offense if the person steals
 1-9     an unsigned check or similar sight order or, with knowledge that an
1-10     unsigned check or similar sight order has been stolen, receives the
1-11     check or sight order with intent to use it, to sell it, or to
1-12     transfer it to a person other than the person from whom the check
1-13     or sight order was stolen.
1-14           (b)  An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.
1-15           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
1-16           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-17     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-18     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-19     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-20     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
         _______________________________     _______________________________
             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 2125 was passed by the House on May
         11, 1999, by a non-record vote; and that the House concurred in
         Senate amendments to H.B. No. 2125 on May 28, 1999, by a non-record
         vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 2125 was passed by the Senate, with
         amendments, on May 26, 1999, by a viva-voce vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
         APPROVED:  _____________________
                            Date
                    _____________________
                          Governor