By:  Kolkhorst, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Armbrister)              H.B. No. 254
	(In the Senate - Received from the House April 3, 2003; 
April 7, 2003, read first time and referred to Committee on 
Criminal Justice; May 21, 2003, reported favorably by the 
following vote:  Yeas 7, Nays 0; May 21, 2003, sent to printer.)


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT


relating to venue in the prosecution of the offense of fraudulent 
use or possession of identifying information.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Chapter 13, Code of Criminal Procedure, is 
amended by adding Article 13.28 to read as follows:
	Art. 13.28.  FRAUDULENT USE OR POSSESSION OF IDENTIFYING 
INFORMATION.  An offense under Section 32.51, Penal Code, may be 
prosecuted in any county in which the offense was committed or in 
the county of residence for the person whose identifying 
information was fraudulently obtained, possessed, transferred, or 
used.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003, and 
applies only to the prosecution of an offense commenced by the 
filing of an indictment or information on or after that date.  A 
prosecution commenced before September 1, 2003, is controlled by 
the law in effect at the time the prosecution was commenced, and the 
former law is continued in effect for that purpose.



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