78R2231 EMT-D

By:  Menendez                                                     H.B. No. 520



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the punishment for individuals who evade arrest after 
committing the offense of murder.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 19.02, Penal Code, is amended by 
amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (e) to read as 
follows:
	(c)  Except as provided by Subsections [Subsection] (d) and 
(e), an offense under this section is a felony of the first degree.
	(e)  The minimum term of imprisonment otherwise imposed on 
conviction of a felony of the first degree under this section is 
increased by five years for each 12-month period after the date on 
which the offense is committed until the date on which the defendant 
is arrested for the commission of the offense.
	SECTION 2.  Section 508.145, Government Code, is amended by 
adding Subsection (g) to read as follows:
	(g)  An inmate serving a sentence for an offense for which 
the punishment is increased under Section 19.02(e), Penal Code, is 
not eligible for release on parole until the inmate's actual 
calendar time served equals the minimum time required under 
Subsection (d) plus the period for which punishment is increased 
under Section 19.02(e), Penal Code.
	SECTION 3.  (a) This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.                       
	(b)  The change in law made by this Act applies only to an 
offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act.   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.  For purposes of this 
section, an offense was committed before the effective date of this 
Act if any element of the offense was committed before that date.