BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2115

By: Moody

Criminal Jurisprudence

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Current law criminalizes the act of bail jumping and failure to appear if a person intentionally or knowingly fails to appear in court in accordance with the terms of release. The penalty for this offense is increased to a third degree felony if the offense for which the person’s appearance is required is classified as a felony, regardless of degree.

H.B. 2115 increases the penalty for bail jumping and failure to appear to a first degree felony if the offense for which the person’s appearance is required is an offense of murder or capital murder.

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. 2115 amends the Penal Code to increase the penalty for bail jumping and failure to appear from a Class A misdemeanor to a first degree felony if the offense for which the actor's appearance was required is an offense of murder or capital murder.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2009.