Texas 2019 86th Regular

Texas House Bill HB1797 Introduced / Bill

Filed 02/14/2019

                    86R8125 JCG-F
 By: González of Dallas H.B. No. 1797


 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT
 relating to an exception to prosecution for the criminal offense of
 theft of service.
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 SECTION 1.  Section 31.04, Penal Code, is amended by adding
 Subsection (h) to read as follows:
 (h)  It is an exception to the application of Subsection
 (a)(3) that the written rental agreement described by that
 subsection is a rental-purchase agreement. For purposes of this
 subsection, "rental-purchase agreement" means an agreement under
 which an individual may use personal property for personal, family,
 or household purposes for an initial rental period and that:
 (1)  is automatically renewable with each payment after
 the initial rental period; and
 (2)  permits the individual to become the owner of the
 property.
 SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies to an
 offense committed before, on, or after the effective date of this
 Act. However, a final conviction for an offense under Section
 31.04, Penal Code, that exists on the effective date of this Act
 remains unaffected by this Act.
 SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.