SRC-BWC S.B. 968 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 968
By: Bivins
Criminal Justice
5/22/2001
Enrolled


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Theft of gasoline and diesel fuel by consumers driving off without paying
has become a serious problem for the industry.  Theft of motor fuel at the
state's 11,000 convenience stores led to nearly $8 million in losses to
these establishments in the year 2000.  Eight states have recently
addressed this problem legislatively, particularly through the suspension
of person's driver license.  S.B. 968 requires a judge to enter a special
affirmative finding if it is determined that a person has prior convictions
for theft of gasoline.  Subsequent convictions would result in suspension
of the person's driver license for 180 days.  S.B. 968 also prohibits the
Department of Public Safety from issuing a driver's license to a person who
has been convicted of gasoline theft if the person did not hold a driver's
license on the date of the conviction.   

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, Code of Criminal Procedure, by adding
Article 42.019, as follows: 

Art. 42.019.  MOTOR FUEL THEFT.  Requires a judge to enter an affirmative
finding in the judgment in a case if the judge or jury, whichever is the
finder of fact, determines beyond a reasonable doubt in the guilt or
innocence phase of the trial of an offense under Section 31.03 (Theft),
Penal Code, that the defendant, in committing the offense dispensed motor
fuel into the tank of a motor vehicle at a retail establishment and then
left the premises without paying the establishment for the motor fuel.
Requires a judge to enter a special affirmative finding in the judgment in
the case, if the judge enters an affirmative finding as required by this
section and determines that the defendant has previously been convicted of
an offense the judgment for which contains an affirmative finding under
this section.   

SECTION 2.  Chapter 521O, Transportation Code, by adding Section 521.349,
as follows: 

Sec. 521.349.  ACQUIRING MOTOR FUEL WITHOUT PAYMENT:  AUTOMATIC SUSPENSION;
LICENSE DENIAL.  Provides that a person's driver's license is automatically
suspended on final conviction of an offense under Section 31.03, Penal
Code, if the judgment in the case contains a special affirmative finding
under Article 42.019, Code of Criminal Procedures, as added by this Act.
Prohibits the Department of Transportation (department) from issuing a
license to a person convicted of an offense in this section who, on the
date of the conviction, did not hold a driver's license.  Provides the
period of suspension under this section is the 180 days after the date of a
final conviction, and the period of license denial is the 180 days after
the date the person applies to the department for reinstatement or issuance
of a driver's license, unless the person has previously been denied a
license under this section or had a license suspended, in which event the
period of suspension is one year after the  date of a final conviction, and
the period of license denial is one year after the date the person applies
to the department for reinstatement or issuance of a driver's license.   

SECTION 3.  Effective date:  September 1, 2001.