HBA-SEP H.B. 378 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 378
By: Garcia
Criminal Jurisprudence
3/19/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Current law provides that the penalty for stalking is a Class A
misdemeanor.  Some believe that this penalty is not sufficient to deter
this activity.  House Bill 378 increases the punishment for stalking from a
Class A misdemeanor to a third degree felony and for persons previously
convicted of stalking, the punishment is increased from a third degree
felony to a second degree felony. 

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 378 amends the Penal Code to increase the punishment for
stalking from a Class A misdemeanor to a third degree felony.  For persons
previously convicted of stalking, the punishment is increased from a third
degree felony to a second degree felony. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.