BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 3478

By: Gallego

Criminal Jurisprudence

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Some observers report that criminal mischief involving the destruction of cattle, horses, and exotic livestock is becoming increasingly common.  C.S.H.B. 3478 seeks to address this problem by making the criminal damage or destruction of more than one head of cattle, horses, or exotic livestock with a value of less than $20,000 a third degree felony.

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

C.S.H.B. 3478 amends the Penal Code to expand the conditions that constitute a third degree felony criminal mischief offense to include damaging or destroying property that is more than one head of cattle, horses, or exotic livestock with a value of less than $20,000.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2011.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 3478 differs from the original by making it a third degree felony criminal mischief offense to damage or destroy property that is more than one head of cattle, horses, or exotic livestock with a value of less than $20,000, whereas the original makes the damage or destruction of such property a third degree felony if the property has an aggregate value of less than $20,000 and the damage or destruction occurs during a single transaction.