| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the creation of the criminal offense of oil and gas |
|
|
equipment theft. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. The heading to Section 31.19, Penal Code, is |
|
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 31.19. THEFT OF PETROLEUM PRODUCT OR OIL AND GAS |
|
|
EQUIPMENT. |
|
|
SECTION 2. Section 31.19, Penal Code, is amended by |
|
|
amending Subsections (a), (c), and (d) and adding Subsections |
|
|
(b-1), (e), and (f) to read as follows: |
|
|
(a) In this section: |
|
|
(1) "Oil and gas equipment" means machinery, drilling |
|
|
equipment, welding equipment, pipeline equipment, fittings, pumps, |
|
|
vehicles, or other equipment and materials that are part of or |
|
|
incident to the exploration, development, maintenance, and |
|
|
operation of oil and gas properties, including oil and gas wells, |
|
|
oil and gas leases, gasoline plants, and refineries. |
|
|
(2) "Petroleum [, "petroleum] product" means crude |
|
|
oil, natural gas, or condensate. |
|
|
(b-1) A person commits an offense if the person unlawfully |
|
|
appropriates oil and gas equipment with intent to deprive the owner |
|
|
of the oil and gas equipment by possessing, removing, delivering, |
|
|
receiving, purchasing, selling, moving, concealing, or |
|
|
transporting the oil and gas equipment. |
|
|
(c) Appropriation of a petroleum product or oil and gas |
|
|
equipment is unlawful if it is without the owner's effective |
|
|
consent. |
|
|
(d) An offense under Subsection (b) [this section] is: |
|
|
(1) a state jail felony if the total value of the |
|
|
petroleum product appropriated is less than $10,000; |
|
|
(2) a felony of the third degree if the total value of |
|
|
the petroleum product appropriated is $10,000 or more but less than |
|
|
$100,000; |
|
|
(3) a felony of the second degree if the total value of |
|
|
the petroleum product appropriated is $100,000 or more but less |
|
|
than $300,000; or |
|
|
(4) a felony of the first degree if the total value of |
|
|
the petroleum product appropriated is $300,000 or more. |
|
|
(e) An offense under Subsection (b-1) is: |
|
|
(1) a state jail felony if the total value of the oil |
|
|
and gas equipment appropriated is $2,500 or more but less than |
|
|
$10,000; |
|
|
(2) a felony of the third degree if the total value of |
|
|
the oil and gas equipment appropriated is $10,000 or more but less |
|
|
than $100,000; |
|
|
(3) a felony of the second degree if the total value of |
|
|
the oil and gas equipment appropriated is $100,000 or more but less |
|
|
than $300,000; or |
|
|
(4) a felony of the first degree if the total value of |
|
|
the oil and gas equipment appropriated is $300,000 or more. |
|
|
(f) If conduct constituting an offense under this section is |
|
|
also an offense under another law, the actor may be prosecuted under |
|
|
this section, the other law, or both. |
|
|
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |