Highlights 77th Texas Legislature - Senate

________________ C RIMINAL
USTICE/General/General
RIMINAL JUSTICE
77 th Texas Legislature
House Sponsor: Representative Ritter
It is a Class B misdemeanor to make a false statement regarding a criminal investigation to a peace officer
or a law enforcement agency employee conducting the investigation, regardless of the type of crime being
investigated. Since the punishment for this offense is relatively minor, there may be little deterrent to
making false statements.
Increases the penalty to a state jail felony for knowingly making a false statement to a peace officer or a
law enforcement employee that is material to the investigation of a felony.
Adds the penalty of a Class A misdemeanor for false statements in applications for protective orders and a
Class C misdemeanor for false reports of family violence.
Adds the penalty of a Class A misdemeanor for false reports of child abuse or neglect or a state jail felony if
the defendant has a prior conviction of this offense.
Retailer and Consumer Fraud Protection - S.B. 923
by Senator Staples
House Sponsor: Representative Goolsby
Current law does not provide that it is an offense if, with intent to defraud or harm another, a person
destroys, removes, conceals, alters, substitutes, or otherwise impairs the verity, legality, or availability of a
universal product code label (UPC).
Adds UPC labels to the Penal Code definition of “writing” in relation to the offense of fraudulent destruction,
removal, or concealment of writing.
Motor Fuel Theft - S.B. 968
by Senators Bivins and Haywood
House Sponsors: Representatives Smithee and Bob Turner
With the recent increase in gasoline prices, gasoline retailers are concerned about the increased number of
thefts in which a person dispenses motor fuel into a vehicle and then leaves the premises without paying
for the motor fuel, known as a “driveoff.”
• Instructs a judge on entering affirmative findings in the judgment of a case, including circumstance
where a special affirmative finding is required; and
• Provides for the suspension and denial of the driver's license of persons convicted of motor fuel
theft.
Senate Research Center 44