H.B. 204 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


H.B. 204
By: Berman
Criminal Jurisprudence
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

This bill was created to reduce the number of tenants who do not pay rent
by subjecting them to criminal charges.  House Bill 204 adds property that
is occupied under a rental agreement to the theft of service provisions
covered by Section 31.04, Penal Code.  H.B. 204 will make vacating
property under a rental agreement on or after the expiration of the rental
agreement without paying the applicable  rental charge for the property
within 10 days after the date on which the actor received notice demanding
payment, a criminal offense. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or
institution. 

ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 31.04(b) (3), Penal Code, to add vacates
property occupied under a rental agreement. 

SECTION 2. (a) The change in law made by this Act applies only to an
offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. For purposes
of this section , an offense is committed before  the effective date of
this Act if any element of the offense occurs before that date.  
           (b) An offense committed before the effective date of this Act
is covered by the law in effect when the offense was committed, and the
former law is continued in effect for that purpose. 

SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2003.