BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 4235

By: Anderson, Charles "Doc"

Criminal Jurisprudence

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been suggested that the criminal penalties associated with the burglary of commercial buildings are insufficient and do not appropriately reflect the seriousness of the crime. H.B. 4235 seeks to deter this conduct by enhancing the penalty for burglary from a state jail felony to a third degree felony if the burglary is committed in a commercial building in which trade or commerce is conducted.

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. 4235 amends the Penal Code to enhance the penalty for burglary from a state jail felony to a third degree felony if the offense is committed in a commercial building in which trade or commerce is conducted. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.