SRC-JBJ S.B. 18 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 18
By: Nelson
Criminal Justice
6/12/2001
Enrolled


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Under Texas law, it is a Class B misdemeanor to interrupt an emergency
citizens-band communication and a third degree felony to cause or threaten
harm to a person who reports a crime.  S.B. 18 makes a individual's
prevention of or interference with a telephone call made or attempted to
request emergency assistance a Class A misdemeanor offense.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 42, Penal Code, by adding Section 42.062, as
follows: 

Sec. 42.062. INTERFERENCE WITH EMERGENCY TELEPHONE CALL. (a) Provides that
an individual commits an offense if the individual knowingly prevents or
interferes with another individual's ability to place an emergency
telephone call or 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. 

(b)  Provides that an individual commits an offense if the individual
recklessly renders unusable a telephone that would otherwise be used by
another individual to place an emergency telephone call or 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. 

(c) Provides that an offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor,
except that the offense is a state jail felony if the actor has previously
been convicted under this section. 

  (e) Defines "emergency."

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2001.