BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2342

By: Dutton

Criminal Jurisprudence

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been suggested that recent legislative efforts revising state law relating to the possession and carrying of a knife created unintended consequences with regard to the possession of certain knives on premises in which knives are necessary in the course of some daily job duties. H.B. 2342 seeks to address this issue by restricting the locations in which this possession is prohibited.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change 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. 2342 amends the Penal Code to restrict the conduct constituting an offense for a person who intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly possesses or goes with a location-restricted knife by removing as locations to which the offense applies an amusement park; the premises of a church, synagogue, or other established place of religious worship; and the premises of a business that derives 51 percent or more of its income from the sale or service of alcoholic beverages and is issued one of the following permits or licenses: wine and beer retailer's permit, mixed beverage permit, private club registration permit, retail dealer's on-premise license, or brewpub license. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.