BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center	S.B. 524
85R2514 LHC-D	By: Birdwell
	Criminal Justice
	4/12/2017
	As Filed

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Under current law, the offense of abuse of a corpse is classified as a Class A misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to one year in jail, and/or up to a $4000 fine. Interested parties contend that this punishment is not severe enough to fit the nature of the crime. In one instance of malpractice by the owners of a funeral home, prosecutors instead sought a conviction for theft that was punishable by a state jail felony in order to deliver a stricter punishment.

 

S.B. 524 increases this offense to a state jail felony. This would impose a minimum penalty of 180 days in jail, up to two years, along with the possibility of up to a $10,000 fine.

 

As proposed, S.B. 524 amends current law relating to increasing the punishment for the offense of abuse of a corpse.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1. Amends Section 42.08(b), Penal Code, by providing that an offense under this section (Abuse of Corpse) is a state jail felony, rather than a Class A misdemeanor.

 

SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act prospective.

 

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2017.