BILL ANALYSIS
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Under current law, it is a Class A misdemeanor offense for a registered sex offender to harbor a runaway child. This legislation would enhance the punishment for a registered sex offender who harbors a runaway child from a Class A misdemeanor to a third degree felony. The purpose of this legislation is to deter registered sex offenders from aiding or harboring children that have runaway.
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
House Bill 347 amends the Penal Code by enhancing the punishment for the offense of harboring a runaway child from a Class A misdemeanor to a third degree felony if the actor, at the time of the offense, was required to register as a sex offender under Chapter 62 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Makes application of this Act prospective.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2007.