HBA-SEP H.B. 364 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 364 By: Hinojosa Criminal Jurisprudence 2/26/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE In instances of domestic violence the aggressor may prevent the victim from obtaining help by interfering with a telephone call to emergency services. Currently there are no civil or criminal penalties against a person who interferes with a victim's attempt to make an emergency telephone call. House Bill 364 creates the offense of interfering with an emergency telephone call. 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 364 amends the Penal Code to provide that a person commits a Class A misdemeanor if, with criminal negligence, the person prevents or otherwise interferes with a telephone call made or attempted by another to request assistance in an emergency from a law enforcement agency, medical facility, or other agency or entity the primary purpose of which is to provide for the safety of individuals. The bill also provides that it is a state jail felony if the actor has previously been convicted of preventing or interfering with an emergency telephone call. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.