HB2734 - Relating to public assistance program fraud; creating a criminal offense.

  89R9720 MZM-D     By: Holt, et al. H.B. No. 2734       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to public assistance program fraud; creating a criminal   offense.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  The heading to Section 32.32, Penal Code, is   amended to read as follows:          Sec. 32.32.  FALSE STATEMENT TO OBTAIN PROPERTY , [ OR ]   CREDIT , OR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAM BENEFIT OR IN THE PROVISION OF   CERTAIN SERVICES.          SECTION 2.  Section 32.32, Penal Code, is amended by   amending Subsections (a) and (c) and adding Subsection (b-2) to   read as follows:          (a)  For purposes of this section :                 (1)  "Credit" [ , "credit" ] includes:                       (A)  [ (1) ]  a loan of money;                       (B)  [ (2) ]  furnishing property or service on   credit;                       (C)  [ (3) ]  extending the due date of an   obligation;                       (D)  [ (4) ]  comaking, endorsing, or guaranteeing a   note or other instrument for obtaining credit;                       (E)  [ (5) ]  a line or letter of credit;                       (F)  [ (6) ]  a credit card, as defined in Section   32.31 (Credit Card or Debit Card Abuse); and                       (G)  [ (7) ]  a mortgage loan.                 (2)  "Public assistance program" includes:                         (A)     the child health plan program under Chapter   62, Health and Safety Code;                       (B)     the financial assistance program under   Chapter 31, Human Resources Code;                       (C)     the medical assistance program established   under Chapter 32, Human Resources Code; and                       (D)     the nutritional assistance programs under   Chapter 33, Human Resources Code, including the supplemental   nutrition assistance program under that chapter.           (b-2)     A person commits an offense if the person   intentionally or knowingly makes a materially false or misleading   written statement in an application to obtain a benefit under a   public assistance program.            (c)  An offense under this section is:                (1)  a Class C misdemeanor if the value of the property   or benefit or the amount of credit is less than $100;                (2)  a Class B misdemeanor if the value of the property   or benefit or the amount of credit is $100 or more but less than   $750;                (3)  a Class A misdemeanor if the value of the property   or benefit or the amount of credit is $750 or more but less than   $2,500;                (4)  a state jail felony if the value of the property or   benefit or the amount of credit is $2,500 or more but less than   $30,000;                (5)  a felony of the third degree if the value of the   property or benefit or the amount of credit is $30,000 or more but   less than $150,000;                (6)  a felony of the second degree if the value of the   property or benefit or the amount of credit is $150,000 or more but   less than $300,000; or                (7)  a felony of the first degree if the value of the   property or benefit or the amount of credit is $300,000 or more.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.