1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the creation of the offense of interfering with an
 1-3     emergency telephone call.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Chapter 42, Penal Code, is amended by adding
 1-6     Section 42.062 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 42.062.  INTERFERENCE WITH EMERGENCY TELEPHONE CALL.
 1-8     (a)  An individual commits an offense if the individual knowingly
 1-9     prevents or interferes with another individual's ability to place
1-10     an emergency telephone call or to request assistance in an
1-11     emergency from a law enforcement agency, medical facility, or other
1-12     agency or entity the primary purpose of which is to provide for the
1-13     safety of individuals.
1-14           (b)  An individual commits an offense if the individual
1-15     recklessly renders unusable a telephone that would otherwise be
1-16     used by another individual to place an emergency telephone call or
1-17     to request assistance in an emergency from a law enforcement
1-18     agency, medical facility, or other agency or entity the primary
1-19     purpose of which is to provide for the safety of individuals.
1-20           (c)  An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor,
1-21     except that the offense is a state jail felony if the actor has
1-22     previously been convicted under this section.
1-23           (d)  In this section, "emergency" means a condition or
1-24     circumstance in which any individual is or is reasonably believed
1-25     by the individual making a telephone call to be in imminent danger
 2-1     of serious bodily injury or in which property is or is reasonably
 2-2     believed by the individual making the telephone call to be in
 2-3     imminent danger of damage or destruction.
 2-4           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
         _______________________________     _______________________________
             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 18 passed the Senate on
         March 5, 2001, by a viva-voce vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 18 passed the House on
         May 23, 2001, by a non-record vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                Chief Clerk of the House
         Approved:
         _______________________________
                      Date
         _______________________________
                    Governor