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.