HBA-AMW H.B. 542 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 542 By: Junell Criminal Jurisprudence 3/13/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Throughout the country there have been cases in which cameras have been hidden to secretly tape individuals. These tapes are sold to other individuals for their gratification or broadcast on Internet websites. Although current law protects against many types of invasion of privacy it does not protect against recording individuals without their consent with the intent to sexually arouse or gratify another. House Bill 542 prohibits the visual recording of another without the other person's consent with the intent to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person. 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 542 amends the Penal Code to provide that a person commits a state jail felony if the person photographs, videotapes, or by other electronic means visually records another without the other person's consent and with intent to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.