BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 835

By: Taylor, Van

Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Recent legislation revised federal law relating to offenses involving fraudulent claims of military service. Interested parties contend that there is a need to update Texas law similarly criminalizing certain such claims to reflect the higher penalties in federal law. S.B. 835 seeks to make this update.

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

SB. 835 amends the Penal Code to increase the penalty for the offense of fraudulent or fictitious military record from a Class C misdemeanor to a Class B misdemeanor.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2015.