Bill Text: TX SB1486 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to the presumption of intent in the prosecution of certain criminal cases involving theft by check or issuance of a bad check.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-03-19 - Referred to Criminal Justice [SB1486 Detail]

Download: Texas-2015-SB1486-Introduced.html
  84R9754 DDT-F
 
  By: Garcia S.B. No. 1486
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the presumption of intent in the prosecution of certain
  criminal cases involving theft by check or issuance of a bad check.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 31.06(a), Penal Code, is amended to read
  as follows:
         (a)  If the actor obtained property or secured performance of
  service by issuing or passing a check or similar sight order for the
  payment of money, when the issuer did not have sufficient funds in
  or on deposit with the bank or other drawee for the payment in full
  of the check or order as well as all other checks or orders then
  outstanding, it is prima facie evidence of the issuer's intent to
  deprive the owner of property under Section 31.03 (Theft) including
  a drawee or third-party holder in due course who negotiated the
  check or order or to avoid payment for service under Section 31.04
  (Theft of Service) (except in the case of a postdated check or order
  or of a check or order given in connection with a consumer debt, an
  extension of consumer credit, or services related to a consumer
  debt or an extension of consumer credit) if:
               (1)  the issuer had no account with the bank or other
  drawee at the time the issuer issued the check or sight order; or
               (2)  payment was refused by the bank or other drawee for
  lack of funds or insufficient funds, on presentation within 30 days
  after issue, and the issuer failed to pay the holder in full within
  10 days after receiving notice of that refusal.
         SECTION 2.  Section 32.41(b), Penal Code, is amended to read
  as follows:
         (b)  This section does not prevent the prosecution from
  establishing the required knowledge by direct evidence; however,
  for purposes of this section, the issuer's knowledge of
  insufficient funds is presumed (except in the case of a postdated
  check or order or of a check or order given in connection with a
  consumer debt, an extension of consumer credit, or services related
  to a consumer debt or an extension of consumer credit) if:
               (1)  he had no account with the bank or other drawee at
  the time he issued the check or order; or
               (2)  payment was refused by the bank or other drawee for
  lack of funds or insufficient funds on presentation within 30 days
  after issue and the issuer failed to pay the holder in full within
  10 days after receiving notice of that refusal.
         SECTION 3.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act.
  An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is
  governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed,
  and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.  For
  purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the
  effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred
  before that date.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
feedback