78R1203 EMT-D

By:  Capelo                                                       H.B. No. 1102



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the punishment for the offense of stalking.                       
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 42.072(b), Penal Code, is amended to 
read as follows:    
	(b)  An offense under this section is a felony of the third 
degree, except that the offense is a felony of the second degree if:
		(1)  the actor has previously been convicted under this 
section; or
		(2)  the victim is younger than 17 years of age at the 
time of the commission of the offense.
	SECTION 2.  (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 
subsection, an offense was committed before the effective date of 
this Act if any element of the offense was committed before that 
date.