BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1844

By: King, Susan

Licensing & Administrative Procedures

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties have raised concerns regarding the penalty for purchasing alcohol for or furnishing alcohol to a minor being a Class A misdemeanor regardless of the resulting outcome of the alcohol consumed by the minor. H.B. 1844 seeks to address this concern by providing for an enhanced penalty under certain conditions.  

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill expressly does one or more of the following: creates a criminal offense, increases the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or changes the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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. 1844 amends the Alcoholic Beverage Code to enhance the penalty for purchasing alcohol for or furnishing alcohol to a minor from a Class A misdemeanor to a state jail felony if it is shown on the trial of the offense that the person purchased an alcoholic beverage for or gave or made an alcoholic beverage available to a minor who, as a result of the consumption of the alcoholic beverage, caused another person to suffer serious bodily injury or death.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2015.