Honorable Terry Keel, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1371 by Jones, Jesse (Relating to certain offenses that involve impersonating a peace officer or other public servant and misrepresenting the nature of certain property.), As Introduced
The bill would amend the Penal Code by enhancing the punishment for the offense of impersonating a public servant from a felony of the third degree to a felony of the second degree if the actor commits the offense with the intent to commit an offense in addition to the offense of impersonating a public servant.
A third degree felony is punishable by imprisonment in the institutional division for any term of not more than 10 years or less than 2 years, or, in addition to confinement, a fine not to exceed $10,000.
A second degree felony is punishable by imprisonment in the institutional division for any term of not more than 20 years or less than 2 years, or, in addition to confinement, a fine not to exceed $10,000.
Increasing the penalty for any criminal offense is expected to result in increased demands upon the correctional resources of counties or of the; however, in the case of this bill, the increased workload and demand for resources would probably not be substantial.