HBA-SEP H.B. 2567 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2567
By: Hinojosa
Criminal Jurisprudence
4/2/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

In 1995, the legislature eliminated the second degree felony offense of
extortion from provisions regarding theft.  Certain criminal organizations
may commit this offense to fund their operations, which necessitates the
need to create a statute that specifically addresses the crime of
extortion.  House Bill 2567 provides that extortion is a second degree
felony. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 2567 amends the Penal Code to provide that a person commits a
second degree felony if the person commits or attempts to commit theft by
threatening to commit a felony against a person or property of a person, or
withhold information about the location or purported location of an
explosive device, drug, poison, or other lethal criminal instrument that if
existent could harm the person or property of a person. If in response to
the threat, a building or any device in, on, or by which any person or
property is or may be propelled, moved, or drawn in the normal course of
commerce or transportation is evacuated, the offense is a first degree
felony.   

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.