HB3168 - Relating to the creation of the offense of fraudulent use or possession of a gift card or gift card redemption information.

  89R10222 JDK-F     By: Cook H.B. No. 3168       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the creation of the offense of fraudulent use or   possession of a gift card or gift card redemption information.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter D, Chapter 32, Penal Code, is amended   by adding Section 32.56 to read as follows:           Sec.   32.56.     FRAUDULENT USE OR POSSESSION OF GIFT CARD OR   GIFT CARD REDEMPTION INFORMATION. (a) In this section:                 (1)     "Cardholder" means a person to whom a physical or   virtual gift card is given or any person who purchased the gift   card.                 (2)     "Card issuer" means any person that issues a gift   card or the agent of that person with respect to the card.                 (3)     "Gift card" means a card, code, or device that is   issued to a consumer on a prepaid basis in a specified amount and   redeemable upon presentation for the purchase of goods or services   and that is either activated or inactivated.                 (4)     "Gift card redemption information" means   information unique to each gift card that allows the cardholder to   access, transfer, or spend funds on the gift card.                 (5)     "Gift card seller" means a merchant engaged in the   business of selling gift cards to consumers.           (b)     A person commits an offense if the person, with the   intent to harm or defraud another:                 (1)     acquires or retains possession of a gift card or   gift card redemption information without the consent of the   cardholder, card issuer, or gift card seller;                 (2)  alters or tampers with a gift card; or                 (3)     uses or attempts to use a gift card or gift card   redemption information to obtain goods, services, or anything else   of value with knowledge that the gift card or gift card redemption   information has been obtained in violation of Subdivision (1) or   altered or tampered with.           (c)  An offense under this section is:                 (1)     a Class C misdemeanor if the value of the gift   card, gift cards, or gift card redemption information involved is   less than $100;                 (2)     a Class B misdemeanor if the value of the gift   card, gift cards, or gift card redemption information involved is   $100 or more but less than $750;                 (3)     a Class A misdemeanor if the value of the gift   card, gift cards, or gift card redemption information involved is   $750 or more but less than $2,500;                 (4)     a state jail felony if the value of the gift card,   gift cards, or gift card redemption information involved is $2,500   or more but less than $30,000;                 (5)     a felony of the third degree if the value of the   gift card, gift cards, or gift card redemption information involved   is $30,000 or more but less than $150,000;                 (6)     a felony of the second degree if the value of the   gift card, gift cards, or gift card redemption information involved   is $150,000 or more but less than $300,000; and                 (7)     a felony of the first degree if the value of the   gift card, gift cards, or gift card redemption information involved   is $300,000 or more.          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.