HBA-SEP H.B. 141 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 141
By: Wise
Criminal Jurisprudence
8/28/2001
Enrolled



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Prior to the 77th Legislature, state law did not provide an increased
punishment for the offense of kidnapping if the actor exposed the abducted
person to a risk of serious bodily injury, abducted a child or an
incompetent person, intended to use the victim to coerce a third person to
perform some act, or intended to hold the person in a condition of
involuntary servitude.  House Bill 141 provides an increase in punishment
for these offenses to decrease the occurrence of such cases.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 141 amends the Penal Code to provide that the punishment for the
offense of kidnapping is a second degree felony if the actor exposed the
person abducted to a risk of serious bodily injury.  The bill also provides
that a person commits an offense of aggravated kidnapping if the person
intentionally or knowingly abducts another person: 

 _with the intent to coerce a third person to perform some act;
 
 _with the intent to  hold the person abducted in a condition of
involuntary servitude; or 
 
 _ who is younger than 17 years of age or incompetent.

EFFECTIVE DATE

Vetoed.