Bill
SB 1822
85(R) - 2017
Senate Criminal Justice
Senate Criminal Justice
Crimes
Criminal Procedure
Vote Recommendation
Yes
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Neutral
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Neutral
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Neutral
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Positive
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Positive
Author(s)
Konni Burton
Bill Caption
Relating to the creation of a commission to review certain penal
laws of this state and certain recommendations regarding those
laws, to criminal offenses previously compiled in statutes outside
the Penal Code, to repealing certain of those offenses, and to
conforming punishments for certain of those offenses to the penalty
structure provided in the Penal Code; increasing the punishment for
sabotage and sedition; imposing a civil penalty.
Fiscal Notes
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
Bill Analysis
SB 1822 would create a commission to review and make recommendations on the Penal Code. This bill would modify various parts of the code by transferring provisions that carry criminal penalties to the Penal Code. It also changes the punishments for those offenses to conform with the misdemeanor and felony schedules used by the State of Texas. The bill would reduce a number of penalties to make them more commensurate with their respective offenses. Some felonies would be appropriately reduced to misdemeanors. The bill would abolish some old and outdated criminal offenses.
Vote Recommendation Notes
This expansive bill reduces certain penalties and eliminates various outdated portions of the code. For this bill’s role in promoting limited government and individual liberty by reducing overcriminalization, we support this bill.
Organizations Supporting
Texas Public Policy Foundation
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