S.B. 408 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


S.B. 408
By: Deuell
Criminal Jurisprudence
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Public servants, their families and household members, and victims of
abuse are the populations most subject to terroristic threats.  The
motivation to prosecute these offenses is little given the risk of the
threats and the lack of jail time and fines for the perpetrator.
Increasing the penalty would increase the motivation to prosecute and
increase the protection offered. C.S.H.B. 512 seeks to increase the
penalty for terroristic threats from a Class B misdemeanor to a Class A
misdemeanor. 

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

C.S.H.B. 512 amends the Penal Code to increase the penalty of making
terroristic threats against a person's family member, household or against
a public servant from a Class B misdemeanor to a Class A misdemeanor. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2003.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

The substitute differs from the original by making a nonsubstantive change.