BILL ANALYSIS
By: Delisi
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Texas law allows for penalties for various offenses to be enhanced by one level of severity if the offense was found to have been committed as part of an organized criminal activity. One of the offenses subject to an enhanced penalty is forgery. However, the similar crime of tampering with governmental records is not an offense which may have an enhanced penalty. House Bill 126 would add tampering with governmental records as an offense for which the enhanced penalty could be sought if the offense was committed as part of an organized criminal activity. The goal of this legislation is to better target the activities of illegal document mills operated by organized crime.
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
H.B. 126 amends the Penal Code to include the offense of tampering with a governmental record to the list of offenses that carry an enhanced penalty if committed while the offender was engaging in organized criminal activity.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2007.