BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 770

By: Lozano

Criminal Jurisprudence

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Current statutes assess criminal penalties for bail jumping and failure to appear if a person lawfully released from custody intentionally or knowingly fails to appear in court in accordance with the terms of release. The penalty for this offense is enhanced 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. 770 seeks to further enhance the penalty for bail jumping and failure to appear in cases involving the most severe offenses.

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. 770 amends the Penal Code to enhance the penalty for bail jumping and failure to appear as a condition of being released from custody from a Class A misdemeanor to a felony of the first degree if the offense for which the actor's appearance was required is an offense of murder or capital murder. The bill makes conforming changes.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2011.