BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

                                                                                                                                    C.S.H.B. 1574

                                                                                                                                            By: Miller

                                                                                                                       Criminal Jurisprudence

                                                                                                        Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Currently, people are protected in the Penal Code from someone collecting certain information about them and using it to harm or defraud. C.S.H.B. 1574 would place a deceased person under that same protection.  The bill also makes it a crime to obtain any of the identifying information listed under Section 32.51(a)(1), instead of a combination of the information currently listed.

 

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. 1574 makes it a third degree felony offense to obtain, possess, transfer, or use identifying information, with the intent to harm or defraud, about a deceased natural person, including a stillborn infant or fetus. The bill also makes it a crime to obtain any of the identifying information listed under Section 32.51(a)(1), instead of a combination of the information currently listed.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

September 1, 2005.

 

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

 

The substitute differs from the original to make it a crime to obtain any of the identifying information listed under Section 32.51(a)(1), instead of a combination of the information currently listed.