85R7234 LHC-D
By: Minjarez H.B. No. 1747
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of the offense of mail theft.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 31, Penal Code, is amended by adding
Section 31.19 to read as follows:
Sec. 31.19. MAIL THEFT. (a) In this section, "mail" means
a letter, postal card, package, bag, or other sealed article sent
through a common carrier and addressed to a person other than the
sender.
(b) A person commits an offense if, without the effective
consent of the applicable addressee and with the intent to deprive
that addressee of the mail, the person appropriates pieces of mail
that, in the aggregate, are addressed to at least three persons
other than the actor.
(c) An offense under this section is:
(1) a state jail felony if 10 or fewer pieces of mail
are appropriated;
(2) a felony of the third degree if more than 10 but
fewer than 50 pieces of mail are appropriated; or
(3) a felony of the second degree if 50 or more pieces
of mail are appropriated.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.