86R3104 JRR-D
 
  By: Minjarez H.B. No. 37
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the creation of the criminal offense of mail theft.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 31, Penal Code, is amended by adding
  Section 31.20 to read as follows:
         Sec. 31.20.  MAIL THEFT. (a) In this section, "mail" means
  a letter, postal card, package, bag, or other sealed article sent
  through a common carrier and addressed to a person other than the
  sender.
         (b)  A person commits an offense if, without the effective
  consent of the applicable addressee and with the intent to deprive
  that addressee of the mail, the person appropriates pieces of mail
  that, in the aggregate, are addressed to at least three persons
  other than the actor.
         (c)  An offense under this section is:
               (1)  a state jail felony if 10 or fewer pieces of mail
  are appropriated;
               (2)  a felony of the third degree if more than 10 but
  fewer than 50 pieces of mail are appropriated; or
               (3)  a felony of the second degree if 50 or more pieces
  of mail are appropriated.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.