SRC-JEC H.B. 11 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 11
78R1630 GWK-FBy: Keel (Shapiro)
Infrastructure Development and Security
4/10/2003
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the capital murder statute does not encompass a scenario where
a terrorist may murder a person with the specific intention of
intimidating the public or paralyzing or influencing the workings of the
government.  H.B. 11 incorporates murder in the course of a terroristic
threat to the list of offenses constituting capital murder. 

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 19.03(a), Penal Code, to provide that a person
commits an offense if the person commits murder as defined under Section
19.02(b)(1) and the person intentionally commits the murder in the course
of committing or attempting to commit terroristic threat under Section
22.07(a)(1), (3), (4), (5), or (6). 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 22.07, Penal Code, as follows:

(a)  Provides that a person commits an offense if the person threatens to
commit any offense involving violence to any person or property with
intent to place the public in fear of serious bodily injury, or influence
the conduct or activities of a branch or agency of the federal government,
the state, or a political subdivision of the state. 

(b)  Makes an offense under Subdivision (5) or (6) of Subsection (a) a
felony of the second degree. 

SECTION 3.  Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION  4.  Effective date:  September 1, 2003.