Bill: HB 427, 86(R) - 2019
Committee
House Business & Industry
2nd Chamber Committee
Senate Criminal Justice
Vote Recommendation
| Vote Recommendation |
Economic Freedom |
Property Rights |
Personal Responsibility |
Limited Government |
Individual Liberty |
| 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.
