Vote Recommendation | Economic Freedom | Property Rights | Personal Responsibility | Limited Government | Individual Liberty |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vote No; Amend | Neutral | Neutral | Negative | Negative | Neutral |
Summary: HB 1234 would add a state jail or third degree felony involving injury to a child, elder, or disabled individual to the list of those ineligible for community supervision.
Analysis: Individuals who cause harm to children, the elderly, or disabled individuals should be penalized based on the severity of the crime. However, HB 1234 includes unintentional but reckless behavior in the list of offenses ineligible for community supervision. Additionally, this bill comes with an extra cost to the taxpayer because of the increased time spent in jail by these individuals.
We recommend amending HB 1234 so that the bill does not apply to conduct that is reckless rather than knowing or intentional. If HB 1234 is not amended, we recommend voting NO.