HBA-KMH H.B. 926 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 926
By: Garcia
Criminal Jurisprudence
4/12/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Allegations of alteration of Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS)
answer sheets have arisen in more than 11 school districts statewide.
False scores are created to increase accountability ratings for the school
district.  Currently, tampering with such records is a misdemeanor.  H.B.
926 increases the penalty for tampering with public school records or
documents. 

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 37.10(d), Penal Code, to include public school
records or documents in the list of instruments for which tampering with
them is a felony of the second or third degree, depending on the intention
of the actor, rather than a misdemeanor or state jail felony. 

SECTION 2.  Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 3.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 4.  Emergency clause.