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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 criminal offense of mail 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 31.20 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 31.20. MAIL THEFT. (a) In this section, "mail" means |
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a letter, postal card, package, bag, or other sealed article sent |
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through a common carrier and addressed to a person other than the |
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sender. |
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(b) A person commits an offense if, without the effective |
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consent of the applicable addressee and with the intent to deprive |
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that addressee of the mail, the person appropriates pieces of mail |
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that, in the aggregate, are addressed to at least three persons |
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other than the actor. |
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(c) An offense under this section is: |
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(1) a state jail felony if 10 or fewer pieces of mail |
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are appropriated; |
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(2) a felony of the third degree if more than 10 but |
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fewer than 50 pieces of mail are appropriated; or |
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(3) a felony of the second degree if 50 or more pieces |
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of mail are appropriated. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |