BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.B. 2328
81R8392 JRH-D By: Guillen et al. (Carona)
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Currently, Texas law allows certain offenses to be tried at the next higher category of offense if it is shown at trial that the offense was committed against an elderly individual. However, these offenses do not include forgery, credit and debit card abuse, or fraudulent use of identifying information. This often leads prosecutors to try offenders under an alternative offense.
H.B. 2328 increases the penalty for credit and debit card abuse to a third degree felony if the offense is committed against an elderly individual.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 32.21, Penal Code, by amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (e-1), as follows:
(c) Provides that except as provided by, rather than in, Subsections (d) (relating to an offense designated as a state jail felony), (e) (relating to an offense designated as a felony of the third degree), and (e-1), an offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor. Makes conforming changes.
(e-1) Provides that an offense under this section is increased to the next higher category of offense if it is shown on the trial of the offense that the offense was committed against an elderly individual as defined by Section 22.04 (Injury to a Child, Elderly Individual, or Disabled Individual).
SECTION 2. Amends Section 32.31(d), Penal Code, to provide that an offense under this section is a state jail felony, except that the offense is a felony of the third degree if it is shown on the trial of the offense that the offense was committed against an elderly individual as defined by Section 22.04.
SECTION 3. Amends Section 32.51, Penal Code, by adding Subsection (c-1), to provide that an offense described for purposes of punishment by Subsections (c)(1)-(3) (related to an offense designated as a state jail felony, a felony of the third degree, or a felony of the second degree) is increased to the next higher category of offense if it is shown on the trial of the offense that the offense was committed against an elderly individual as defined by Section 22.04.
SECTION 4. Makes application of this Act prospective.
SECTION 5. Effective date: September 1, 2009.