H.B. 1657 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 1657 By: Wohlgemuth Criminal Jurisprudence Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, a person convicted of intoxication manslaughter may be assessed with concurrent or consecutive sentences if more than one person is killed in the same criminal episode. However, a person convicted of a single offense of both intoxication assault and intoxication manslaughter arising out of the same criminal episode, must be punished with concurrent sentences. House Bill 1657 allows a person who is convicted of multiple offenses of intoxication assault or intoxication manslaughter or of a single offense of both violations to be sentenced concurrently or consecutively. 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 House Bill 1657 amends the Penal Code to allow persons who are convicted of multiple offenses of intoxication assault or intoxication manslaughter or of a single offense of both violations to be sentenced concurrently or consecutively. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2003.