HBA-MSH, SEP H.B. 460 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 460
By: Hartnett
Criminal Jurisprudence
3/19/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Current law provides that the first conviction of a person who knowingly
engages in or offers or agrees to engage in sexual conduct for a fee, or
solicits another in a public place to engage in sexual conduct for hire
(prostitution) is a Class B misdemeanor.  The penalty for subsequent
convictions is a Class A misdemeanor. These penalties may not be sufficient
to deter this activity.  House Bill 460 provides that it is a state jail
felony if a person knowingly engages in prostitution and has been
previously convicted of one of the above offenses three or more times.   

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 460 amends the Penal Code to provide that it is a state jail
felony if a person knowingly engages in or offers or agrees to engage in
sexual conduct for a fee, or solicits another in a public place to engage
in sexual conduct for hire and has been previously convicted of one of the
above offenses three or more times.   

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.