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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the punishment for criminal mischief committed by |
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interfering with certain transportation signs, signals, or |
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devices. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 28.03(g), Penal Code, is amended by |
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adding Subdivisions (4) through (8) to read as follows: |
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(4) "Aluminum wiring" means insulated or noninsulated |
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wire or cable that consists of at least 50 percent aluminum, |
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including any tubing or conduit attached to the wire or cable. |
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(5) "Bronze wiring" means insulated or noninsulated |
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wire or cable that consists of at least 50 percent bronze, including |
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any tubing or conduit attached to the wire or cable. |
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(6) "Copper wiring" means insulated or noninsulated |
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wire or cable that consists of at least 50 percent copper, including |
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any tubing or conduit attached to the wire or cable. |
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(7) "Transportation communications equipment" means: |
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(A) an official traffic-control device, railroad |
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sign or signal, or traffic-control signal, as those terms are |
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defined by Section 541.304, Transportation Code; or |
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(B) a sign, signal, or device erected by a |
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railroad, public body, or public officer to direct the movement of a |
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railroad train, as defined by Section 541.202, Transportation Code. |
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(8) "Transportation communications device" means any |
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item attached to transportation communications equipment, |
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including aluminum wiring, bronze wiring, and copper wiring. |
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SECTION 2. Section 28.03, Penal Code, is amended by adding |
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Subsection (j) to read as follows: |
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(j) Notwithstanding Subsection (b), an offense under this |
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section is a felony of the third degree if: |
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(1) the tangible property damaged, destroyed, or |
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tampered with is transportation communications equipment or a |
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transportation communications device; and |
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(2) the amount of the pecuniary loss to the tangible |
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property is less than $100,000. |
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SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. |
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An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is |
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covered by the law in effect when the offense was committed, and the |
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former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For purposes of |
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this section, an offense was committed before the effective date of |
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this Act if any element of the offense was committed before that |
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date. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |
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* * * * * |