Bill: HB 902, 86(R) - 2019

Committee

House Criminal Jurisprudence

2nd Chamber Committee

Senate Criminal Justice

Vote Recommendation

Vote Recommendation Economic Freedom Property Rights Personal Responsibility Limited Government Individual Liberty
Yes Neutral Neutral Positive Positive Neutral

Author(s)

Brooks Landgraf
Angie Chen Button
Justin Holland
Candy Noble
Dade Phelan

Co-Author(s)

Steve Allison
Trent Ashby
Keith Bell
Dwayne Bohac
Greg Bonnen
Brad Buckley
DeWayne Burns
Giovanni Capriglione
Travis Clardy
Jay Dean
Dan Flynn
Craig Goldman
Ryan Guillen
Sam Harless
Matt Krause
Stan Lambert
Jeff Leach
Ben Leman
J.M. Lozano
Morgan Meyer
Rick Miller
Tan Parker
Jarred Patterson
Dennis Paul
Scott Sanford
Matt Schaefer
Matt Shaheen
Lynn Stucky
Valoree Swanson
Ed Thompson
Tony Tinderholt

Sponsor(s)

Joan Huffman

Bill Caption

Relating to increasing the criminal penalty for assault of a pregnant woman.

Fiscal Notes

The probable fiscal impact of implementing the bill is indeterminate because data collected at the statewide level do not reveal the number of assault cases involving a pregnant victim, information necessary to determine the impact of the bill's enhancement provision.

Bill Analysis

HB 902 would make assault of a person the actor knew was pregnant at the time of the assault a third degree felony. This would be an increase from the current Class A misdemeanor penalty.

Vote Recommendation Notes

Texas Action supports HB 902 because it advances the principles of limited government and personal responsibility. We support the goal of the bill in seeking to deter any assaults upon pregnant women by increasing the penalty for the offense. It is a proper role of limited government to have punishment proportional to the crime. To knowingly assault a pregnant woman is to assault two people, so the penalty enhancement is justified. 


Source URL (retrieved on 03/29/2024 08:03 AM): http://reports.texasaction.com/bill/86r/hb902?print_view=true