By: Raymond	H.B. No. 3291

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to the creation of the offense of theft of pipeline
	equipment, oil and gas equipment, oil, gas, or condensate and the
	unauthorized purchase or sale of oil, gas, or condensate.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Section 31.03 (e)(6), Penal Code is amended to
	read as follows:
	(6)  a felony of the second degree if:
	(A)  the value of the property stolen is $100,000 or
	more but less than $200,000; [or]
	(B)  the value of the property stolen is less than
	$200,000 and the property stolen is an automated teller machine or
	the contents or components of an automated teller machine;
	(C)  the value of the property stolen is $10,000 or more
	but less than $200,000 and the property stolen is pipeline
	equipment or oil and gas equipment as defined by Section 112.001,
	Natural Resources Code; or
	(D)  the value of the property stolen is $10,000 or more
	but less than $200,000 and the property stolen is oil or gas as
	defined by Section 115.001, Natural Resources Code or condensate.
	SECTION 2.  Section 31.03 (f)(2), Penal Code is amended to
	read as follows:
	(f)  An offense described for purposes of punishment by
	Subsections (e)(1)-(6) is increased to the next higher category of
	offense if it is shown on the trial of the offense that:
	(4)  the actor was a Medicare provider in a contractual
	relationship with the federal government at the time of the offense
	and the property appropriated came into the actor's custody,
	possession, or control by virtue of the contractual relationship;
	or
	(5)  during the commission of the offense, the actor
	intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly:
	(A)  caused a fire exit alarm to sound or
	otherwise become activated;
	(B)  deactivated or otherwise prevented a fire
	exit alarm or retail theft detector from sounding; or
	(C)  used a shielding or deactivation instrument
	to prevent or attempt to prevent detection of the offense by a
	retail theft detector; or
	(6)  the actor was in a contractual or employment
	relationship with the owner of the oil, gas, condensate, pipeline
	equipment, or oil and gas equipment at the time of the offense and
	the oil, gas, condensate, pipeline equipment, or oil and gas
	equipment was in the actor's custody, possession, or control by
	virtue of the contractual or employment relationship.
	SECTION 3.  Section 85.389, Natural Resources Code is
	amended to read as follows:
	(b)  A person who purchases or sells oil, gas or condensate
	without first obtaining the required registration or permits from
	the commission for the sale or purchase of oil, gas or condensate
	commits an offense.
	(c)[b]  An offense under this section is a felony of the
	second [third] degree.
	SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.