Bill Text: TX SB252 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to certain criminal offenses, punishments, and procedures; creating a criminal offense; increasing a criminal penalty.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-03-29 - No action taken in committee [SB252 Detail]

Download: Texas-2021-SB252-Introduced.html
  87R5924 TYPED
 
  By: Bettencourt S.B. No. 252
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to certain criminal offenses, punishments, and
  procedures; creating a criminal offense; increasing a criminal
  penalty.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Title 8, Chapter 39.01, Penal Code is amended as
  follows:
         Sec. 39.01.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
               (2)  "Misuse" means to deal with property contrary to:
                     (A)  an agreement under which the public servant
  holds the property;
                     (B)  a contract of employment or oath of office of
  a public servant;
                     (C)  a law, including provisions of the General
  Appropriations Act specifically relating to government property,
  that prescribes the manner of custody or disposition of the
  property; [or]
                     (D)  a limited purpose for which the property is
  delivered or received; or
                     (E)  the public interest, by storing or
  refurbishing non-government personal property, including art work,
  at government expense, without public benefit.
         SECTION 2.  Title 8, Chapter 39.015, Penal Code is amended as
  follows:
         Sec. 39.015.  CONCURRENT JURISDICTION TO PROSECUTE OFFENSES
  UNDER THIS CHAPTER. [With the consent of the appropriate local
  county or district attorney, the] The attorney general has
  concurrent jurisdiction with [that consenting] a local prosecutor
  to prosecute an offense under this chapter.
         SECTION 3.  Title 8, Chapter 39.02, Penal Code is amended as
  follows:
         Sec. 39.02.  ABUSE OF OFFICIAL CAPACITY. (a) A public
  servant commits an offense if, with intent to obtain or bestow a
  benefit or with intent to harm or defraud another, he intentionally
  or knowingly:
               (1)  violates a law relating to the public servant's
  office or employment; [or]
               (2)  misuses government property, services, personnel,
  or any other thing of value belonging to the government that has
  come into the public servant's custody or possession by virtue of
  the public servant's office or employment[.]; or
               (3)  misuses non-government personal property or any
  other thing of value, including art work, that has come into the
  public servant's custody or possession by virtue of the public
  servant's office or employment by storing or refurbishing at
  government expense, without public benefit.
         (b)  An offense under Subsection (a)(1) is a Class A
  misdemeanor.
         (c)  An offense under Subsections (a)(2) and (3) is:
               (1)  a Class C misdemeanor if the value of the use of
  the thing misused is less than $100;
               (2)  a Class B misdemeanor if the value of the use of
  the thing misused is $100 or more but less than $750;
               (3)  a Class A misdemeanor if the value of the use of
  the thing misused is $750 or more but less than $2,500;
               (4)  a state jail felony if the value of the use of the
  thing misused is $2,500 or more but less than $30,000;
               (5)  a felony of the third degree if the value of the
  use of the thing misused is $30,000 or more but less than $150,000;
               (6)  a felony of the second degree if the value of the
  use of the thing misused is $150,000 or more but less than $300,000;
  or
               (7)  a felony of the first degree if the value of the
  use of the thing misused is $300,000 or more.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
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