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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of the offense of petroleum product or oil |
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and gas equipment theft. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 31, Penal Code, is amended by adding |
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Section 31.19 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 31.19. THEFT OF PETROLEUM PRODUCT OR OIL AND GAS |
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EQUIPMENT. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Oil and gas equipment" means machinery, drilling |
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equipment, welding equipment, pipe, fittings, pumps, vehicles, or |
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other equipment used in the drilling or maintenance of oil and gas |
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wells, in the production of oil and gas, or to transport petroleum |
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products. |
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(2) "Petroleum product" means crude oil, natural gas, |
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or condensate. |
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(b) A person commits an offense if the person unlawfully |
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appropriates a petroleum product with intent to deprive the owner |
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of the petroleum product by: |
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(1) possessing, removing, delivering, receiving, |
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purchasing, selling, moving, concealing, or transporting the |
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petroleum product; or |
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(2) making or causing a connection to be made with, or |
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drilling or tapping or causing a hole to be drilled or tapped in, a |
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pipe, pipeline, or tank used to store or transport a petroleum |
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product. |
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(c) A person commits an offense if the person unlawfully |
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appropriates oil and gas equipment with intent to deprive the owner |
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of the oil and gas equipment. |
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(d) Appropriation of a petroleum product or oil and gas |
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equipment is unlawful if it is without the owner's effective |
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consent. |
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(e) An offense under this section is: |
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(1) a state jail felony if the total value of the |
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petroleum product or oil and gas equipment appropriated is less |
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than $10,000; |
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(2) a felony of the third degree if the total value of |
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the petroleum product or oil and gas equipment appropriated is |
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$10,000 or more but less than $100,000; |
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(3) a felony of the second degree if the total value of |
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the petroleum product or oil and gas equipment appropriated is |
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$100,000 or more but less than $300,000; or |
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(4) a felony of the first degree if the total value of |
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the petroleum product or oil and gas equipment appropriated is |
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$300,000 or more. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |