BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2725

By: Martinez Fischer

Criminal Jurisprudence

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

There are concerns that the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines throughout the state has created new opportunities for predatory schemes to obtain personal identifying information. H.B. 2725 aims to address these concerns by increasing the penalty for fraudulent use or possession of identifying information when that information is obtained under the guise of helping an individual access a vaccine.

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. 2725 amends the Penal Code to increase the penalty for fraudulent use or possession of identifying information to the next higher category if it is shown at the trial of the offense that the actor used a materially false or misleading statement regarding the availability, provision, or distribution of a vaccine to obtain the identifying information.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.