Bill

HB 427

86(R) - 2019
House Business & Industry
Senate Criminal Justice
House Business & Industry
Senate Criminal Justice
Crimes
Criminal Procedure

Vote Recommendation

Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Neutral

Author(s)

Matt Shaheen

Bill Caption

Relating to the punishment for the offense of fraudulent destruction, removal, or concealment of a writing that is attached to tangible property; enhancing a criminal penalty.


Fiscal Notes

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.


Bill Analysis

HB 427 would enhance the penalty for fraudulent destruction, removal, or concealment of writing attached to tangible property. If the writing was attached to the item to indicate a price was destroyed, removed, or concealed for the purpose of obtaining the property for a lesser price then the penalty would be enhanced from a Class A misdemeanor to a felony of the first degree based on the price difference between the true price and the fraudulent price if the individual also changed the writing.

Vote Recommendation Notes

Texas Action remains neutral on this legislation which would peg the penalty for tampering with price tags for tangible property to a penalty ladder that is consistent with theft of tangible items of the same value as the pecuniary gain made by tampering with a price tag.