By: Johnson, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Huffman) H.B. No. 1284
         (In the Senate - Received from the House April 25, 2013;
  April 29, 2013, read first time and referred to Committee on
  Criminal Justice; May 17, 2013, reported favorably by the
  following vote:  Yeas 7, Nays 0; May 17, 2013, sent to printer.)
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the offense of making or causing a false alarm or report
  involving a public or private institution of higher education.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter E, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 51.219 to read as follows:
         Sec. 51.219.  NOTIFICATION OF PENALTY FOR FALSE ALARM OR
  REPORT. (a) In this section, "institution of higher education" and
  "private or independent institution of higher education" have the
  meanings assigned by Section 61.003.
         (b)  Each institution of higher education and private or
  independent institution of higher education shall notify all
  incoming students, as soon as practicable, of the penalty for the
  offense under Section 42.06, Penal Code, of making a false alarm or
  report involving a public or private institution of higher
  education.
         (c)  Notwithstanding Subsection (b), a private or
  independent institution of higher education is not required to
  comply with Subsection (b) if the institution determines that
  providing notice as required by that subsection is not feasible.  
  This subsection expires August 1, 2014.
         (d)  Not later than October 1, 2013, each institution of
  higher education shall notify all enrolled students of the penalty
  for the offense under Section 42.06, Penal Code, of making a false
  alarm or report involving a public or private institution of higher
  education. This subsection expires December 31, 2013.
         SECTION 2.  Section 42.06(b), Penal Code, is amended to read
  as follows:
         (b)  An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor
  unless the false report is of an emergency involving a public or
  private institution of higher education or involving a public
  primary or secondary school, public communications, public
  transportation, public water, gas, or power supply or other public
  service, in which event the offense is a state jail felony.
         SECTION 3.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act.
  An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is
  governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed,
  and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For
  purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the
  effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred
  before that date.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2013.
 
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