BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 4070

By: Oliverson

Transportation

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

There are concerns that the penalty for an offense for illegally passing a school bus in which the actor causes serious bodily injury to another does not accurately reflect the severity of the crime. H.B. 4070 seeks to protect children entering and exiting a school bus and others by increasing the penalty for such an offense.

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. 4070 amends the Transportation Code to increase the penalty for an offense for illegally passing a school bus in which the actor causes serious bodily injury to another from a Class A misdemeanor to a second degree felony. If conduct constituting such an offense also constitutes an offense under another provision of law, the person may be prosecuted under the bill's provisions or the other provision. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.