By Hinojosa H.B. No. 2567 77R8419 GWK-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the creation of the offense of extortion. 1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-4 SECTION 1. Chapter 31, Penal Code, is amended by adding 1-5 Section 31.031 to read as follows: 1-6 Sec. 31.031. EXTORTION. (a) A person commits an offense if 1-7 the person commits or attempts to commit theft under Section 31.03 1-8 by threatening to: 1-9 (1) commit a felony against the person or property of 1-10 the person threatened or the person or property of another; or 1-11 (2) withhold information about the location or 1-12 purported location of an explosive device, drug, poison, or other 1-13 lethal criminal instrument that if existent could harm the person 1-14 or property of the person threatened or the person or property of 1-15 another. 1-16 (b) An offense under this section is a felony of the second 1-17 degree, unless in response to the threat, a building or any device 1-18 in, on, or by which any person or property is or may be propelled, 1-19 moved, or drawn in the normal course of commerce or transportation 1-20 is evacuated, in which event the offense is a felony of the first 1-21 degree. 1-22 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.