| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to a defense to prosecution for the criminal offense of |
|
|
theft of service. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Section 31.04, Penal Code, is amended by adding |
|
|
Subsection (h) to read as follows: |
|
|
(h) It is a defense to prosecution under Subsection (a)(3) |
|
|
that the written rental agreement described by that subsection is a |
|
|
rental-purchase agreement. For purposes of this subsection, |
|
|
"rental-purchase agreement" means an agreement under which an |
|
|
individual may use personal property for personal, family, or |
|
|
household purposes for an initial rental period and that: |
|
|
(1) is automatically renewable with each payment after |
|
|
the initial rental period; and |
|
|
(2) permits the individual to become the owner of the |
|
|
property. |
|
|
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies to an |
|
|
offense committed before, on, or after the effective date of this |
|
|
Act. However, a final conviction for an offense under Section |
|
|
31.04, Penal Code, that exists on the effective date of this Act |
|
|
remains unaffected by this Act. |
|
|
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |