HBA-AMW H.B. 581 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 581 By: Kuempel Criminal Jurisprudence 3/18/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Under current law, the maximum penalty for unreasonable noise is a $500 fine. This penalty does not deter some individuals and businesses who exceed the legal noise limit on a regular basis and some businesses may consider the fine a reasonable cost of doing business. House Bill 581 increases the penalty for repeat violators of the provisions against unreasonable noise to a fine not to exceed $2,000, confinement in jail not to exceed 180 days, or both the fine and confinement. 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 581 amends the Penal Code to increase from a Class C misdemeanor to a Class B misdemeanor the penalty for a person who intentionally or knowingly makes unreasonable noise in a public place other than a sport shooting range, or in or near a private residence that the person has no right to occupy if the person has previously been convicted of such an offense. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.