HBA-RBT H.B. 388 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 388
By: Tillery
Criminal Jurisprudence
2/15/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

In recent years, there have been a number of highly publicized shootings at
schools.  Currently, a murder is a capital murder only in certain
circumstances.  H.B. 388 adds a murder that takes place on school property,
a school vehicle, or in any building where an activity sponsored by a
school is being conducted to the list of murders that are capital murders.
The bill applies equally to public or private schools.    

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 19.03(a), Penal Code, to include a murder as
defined under Section 19.02(b)(1) (Murder) that is committed on the
physical premises of a school, on any grounds or in any building where an
activity sponsored by a school is being conducted, or on a passenger
transportation vehicle of a school, among the list of offenses which are
capital murders.  Makes a nonsubstantive change.   

SECTION 2.  Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 3.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 4.  Emergency clause.