88R2788 EAS-D
 
  By: Patterson H.B. No. 844
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the definition of trafficking for purposes of the
  offense of trafficking of persons.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 20A.01(4), Penal Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
               (4)  "Traffic" means to transport, entice, recruit,
  harbor, provide, solicit, patronize, or otherwise obtain another
  person by any means.
         SECTION 2.  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 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.