SRC-JBJ S.B. 923 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 923 77R2673 ATP-DBy: Staples Criminal Justice 3/11/2001 As Filed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, Texas is experiencing the proliferation of a certain type of crime affecting retailers where fraudulent universal product code (UPC) labels are used for unscrupulous gain. As proposed, S.B. 923 amends the definition of "writing" found in the section of the Penal Code concerning offenses against property so that it is a Class A misdemeanor for any person to destroy, remove, conceal, alter, substitute or otherwise impair a UPC label with the intent to defraud or harm another. 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 Section 32.47(b), Penal Code, to redefine "writing" to include universal product codes. SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2001.