BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1667

By: Meyer

Criminal Jurisprudence

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties contend that the current punishment for promotion of prostitution is not enough of a deterrent to human traffickers and does not reflect the seriousness of the crime. H.B. 1667 seeks to address this issue by increasing certain penalties for promotion of prostitution.

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. 1667 amends the Penal Code to increase the penalty for promotion of prostitution from a Class A misdemeanor to a state jail felony. The bill increases the penalty enhancement for a subsequent conviction of the offense from a state jail felony to a third degree felony.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.