HBA-SEP H.B. 1971 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1971
By: Garcia
Criminal Jurisprudence
4/3/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Current law does not specifically provide that an employer who requires an
employee, as a condition of employment, to perform an act knowing that the
act is likely to cause death, serious bodily injury, or serious illness
commits an offense.  House Bill 1971 provides that it is a state jail
felony for an individual, corporation, or association that is an employer
to require an employee, as a condition of employment, to perform an act
knowing that the act is likely to cause death, serious bodily injury, or
serious illness to the employee unless the act causes the employee's death,
in which case it is a felony of the third degree.  

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. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 1971 amends the Penal Code to provide that it is a state jail
felony for an individual, corporation, or association that is an employer
to require an employee, as a condition of employment, to perform an act
knowing that the act is likely to cause death, serious bodily injury, or
serious illness to the employee unless the act causes the employee's death,
in which case it is a felony of the third degree.  

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.