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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the prosecution of the offenses of trafficking of |
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persons and compelling prostitution and to certain consequences of |
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those offenses. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 20A.01, Penal Code, is amended by |
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amending Subdivisions (2-a) and (2-b) and adding Subdivision (2-c) |
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to read as follows: |
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(2-a) "Person with a disability" means a person who by |
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reason of physical or mental disease, defect, or injury is |
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substantially unable to protect the person's self from harm or to |
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provide food, shelter, or medical care for the person's self. |
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(2-b) "Premises" has the meaning assigned by Section |
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481.134, Health and Safety Code. |
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(2-c) [(2-b)] "School" means a public or private |
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primary or secondary school. |
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SECTION 2. Sections 20A.02(a) and (b), Penal Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) A person commits an offense if the person knowingly: |
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(1) traffics another person with the intent that the |
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trafficked person engage in forced labor or services; |
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(2) receives a benefit from participating in a venture |
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that involves an activity described by Subdivision (1), including |
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by receiving labor or services the person knows are forced labor or |
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services; |
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(3) traffics another person and, through force, fraud, |
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or coercion, causes the trafficked person to engage in conduct |
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prohibited by: |
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(A) Section 43.02 (Prostitution); |
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(B) Section 43.03 (Promotion of Prostitution); |
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(B-1) Section 43.031 (Online Promotion of |
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Prostitution); |
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(C) Section 43.04 (Aggravated Promotion of |
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Prostitution); |
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(C-1) Section 43.041 (Aggravated Online |
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Promotion of Prostitution); or |
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(D) Section 43.05 (Compelling Prostitution); |
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(4) receives a benefit from participating in a venture |
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that involves an activity described by Subdivision (3) or engages |
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in sexual conduct with a person trafficked in the manner described |
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in Subdivision (3); |
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(5) traffics a child or a person with a disability with |
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the intent that the trafficked child or person engage in forced |
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labor or services; |
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(6) receives a benefit from participating in a venture |
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that involves an activity described by Subdivision (5), including |
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by receiving labor or services the person knows are forced labor or |
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services; |
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(7) traffics a child or a person with a disability and |
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by any means causes the trafficked child or person to engage in, or |
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become the victim of, conduct prohibited by: |
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(A) Section 21.02 (Continuous Sexual Abuse of |
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Young Child or Disabled Individual); |
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(B) Section 21.11 (Indecency with a Child); |
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(C) Section 22.011 (Sexual Assault); |
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(D) Section 22.021 (Aggravated Sexual Assault); |
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(E) Section 43.02 (Prostitution); |
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(E-1) Section 43.021 (Solicitation of |
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Prostitution); |
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(F) Section 43.03 (Promotion of Prostitution); |
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(F-1) Section 43.031 (Online Promotion of |
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Prostitution); |
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(G) Section 43.04 (Aggravated Promotion of |
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Prostitution); |
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(G-1) Section 43.041 (Aggravated Online |
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Promotion of Prostitution); |
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(H) Section 43.05 (Compelling Prostitution); |
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(I) Section 43.25 (Sexual Performance by a |
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Child); |
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(J) Section 43.251 (Employment Harmful to |
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Children); or |
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(K) Section 43.26 (Possession or Promotion of |
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Child Pornography); or |
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(8) receives a benefit from participating in a venture |
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that involves an activity described by Subdivision (7) or engages |
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in sexual conduct with a child or a person with a disability who is |
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trafficked in the manner described in Subdivision (7). |
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(b) Except as otherwise provided by this subsection and |
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Subsection (b-1), an offense under this section is a felony of the |
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second degree. An offense under this section is a felony of the |
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first degree if: |
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(1) the applicable conduct constitutes an offense |
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under Subsection (a)(5), (6), (7), or (8), regardless of whether |
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the actor knows the age of the child or whether the actor knows the |
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person is disabled at the time of the offense; |
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(2) the commission of the offense results in the death |
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of the person who is trafficked; |
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(3) the commission of the offense results in the death |
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of an unborn child of the person who is trafficked; or |
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(4) the actor recruited, enticed, or obtained the |
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trafficked person [victim of the offense] from a shelter or |
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facility operating as a residential treatment center that serves |
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runaway youth, foster children, the homeless, or persons subjected |
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to human trafficking, domestic violence, or sexual assault. |
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SECTION 3. Section 43.05(a), Penal Code, is amended to read |
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as follows: |
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(a) A person commits an offense if the person knowingly: |
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(1) causes another by force, threat, coercion, or |
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fraud to commit prostitution; [or] |
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(2) causes by any means a child younger than 18 years |
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to commit prostitution, regardless of whether the actor knows the |
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age of the child at the time of the offense; or |
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(3) causes by any means a person with a disability, as |
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defined by Section 20A.01, to commit prostitution, regardless of |
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whether the actor knows the person is disabled at the time of the |
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offense. |
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SECTION 4. Section 16.0045(a), Civil Practice and Remedies |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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(a) A person must bring suit for personal injury not later |
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than 30 years after the day the cause of action accrues if the |
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injury arises as a result of conduct that violates: |
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(1) Section 22.011(a)(2), Penal Code (sexual assault |
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of a child); |
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(2) Section 22.021(a)(1)(B), Penal Code (aggravated |
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sexual assault of a child); |
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(3) Section 21.02, Penal Code (continuous sexual abuse |
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of young child or disabled individual); |
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(4) Section 20A.02(a)(7)(A), (B), (C), (D), or (H) or |
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Section 20A.02(a)(8), Penal Code, involving an activity described |
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by Section 20A.02(a)(7)(A), (B), (C), (D), or (H) or sexual conduct |
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with a child or a person with a disability who is trafficked in the |
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manner described by Section 20A.02(a)(7), Penal Code (certain |
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sexual trafficking [of a child]); |
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(5) Section 43.05(a)(2) or (3), Penal Code (compelling |
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prostitution by a child or a person with a disability); or |
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(6) Section 21.11, Penal Code (indecency with a |
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child). |
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SECTION 5. Article 12.01, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Art. 12.01. FELONIES. Except as provided in Article 12.03, |
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felony indictments may be presented within these limits, and not |
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afterward: |
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(1) no limitation: |
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(A) murder and manslaughter; |
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(B) sexual assault under Section 22.011(a)(2), |
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Penal Code, or aggravated sexual assault under Section |
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22.021(a)(1)(B), Penal Code; |
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(C) sexual assault, if: |
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(i) during the investigation of the offense |
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biological matter is collected and the matter: |
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(a) has not yet been subjected to |
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forensic DNA testing; or |
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(b) has been subjected to forensic DNA |
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testing and the testing results show that the matter does not match |
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the victim or any other person whose identity is readily |
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ascertained; or |
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(ii) probable cause exists to believe that |
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the defendant has committed the same or a similar sex offense |
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against five or more victims; |
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(D) continuous sexual abuse of young child or |
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disabled individual under Section 21.02, Penal Code; |
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(E) indecency with a child under Section 21.11, |
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Penal Code; |
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(F) an offense involving leaving the scene of an |
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accident under Section 550.021, Transportation Code, if the |
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accident resulted in the death of a person; |
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(G) trafficking of persons under Section |
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20A.02(a)(7) or (8), Penal Code; |
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(H) continuous trafficking of persons under |
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Section 20A.03, Penal Code; or |
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(I) compelling prostitution under Section |
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43.05(a)(2) or (3), Penal Code; |
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(2) ten years from the date of the commission of the |
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offense: |
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(A) theft of any estate, real, personal or mixed, |
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by an executor, administrator, guardian or trustee, with intent to |
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defraud any creditor, heir, legatee, ward, distributee, |
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beneficiary or settlor of a trust interested in such estate; |
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(B) theft by a public servant of government |
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property over which the public servant exercises control in the |
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public servant's official capacity; |
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(C) forgery or the uttering, using, or passing of |
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forged instruments; |
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(D) injury to an elderly or disabled individual |
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punishable as a felony of the first degree under Section 22.04, |
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Penal Code; |
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(E) sexual assault, except as provided by |
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Subdivision (1) or (7); |
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(F) arson; |
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(G) trafficking of persons under Section |
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20A.02(a)(1), (2), (3), or (4), Penal Code; or |
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(H) compelling prostitution under Section |
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43.05(a)(1), Penal Code; |
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(3) seven years from the date of the commission of the |
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offense: |
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(A) misapplication of fiduciary property or |
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property of a financial institution; |
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(B) fraudulent securing of document execution; |
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(C) a felony violation under Chapter 162, Tax |
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Code; |
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(D) false statement to obtain property or credit |
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under Section 32.32, Penal Code; |
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(E) money laundering; |
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(F) credit card or debit card abuse under Section |
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32.31, Penal Code; |
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(G) fraudulent use or possession of identifying |
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information under Section 32.51, Penal Code; |
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(H) exploitation of a child, elderly individual, |
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or disabled individual under Section 32.53, Penal Code; |
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(I) health care fraud under Section 35A.02, Penal |
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Code; or |
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(J) bigamy under Section 25.01, Penal Code, |
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except as provided by Subdivision (6); |
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(4) five years from the date of the commission of the |
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offense: |
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(A) theft or robbery; |
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(B) except as provided by Subdivision (5), |
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kidnapping or burglary; |
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(C) injury to an elderly or disabled individual |
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that is not punishable as a felony of the first degree under Section |
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22.04, Penal Code; |
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(D) abandoning or endangering a child; or |
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(E) insurance fraud; |
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(5) if the investigation of the offense shows that the |
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victim is younger than 17 years of age at the time the offense is |
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committed, 20 years from the 18th birthday of the victim of one of |
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the following offenses: |
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(A) sexual performance by a child under Section |
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43.25, Penal Code; |
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(B) aggravated kidnapping under Section |
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20.04(a)(4), Penal Code, if the defendant committed the offense |
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with the intent to violate or abuse the victim sexually; or |
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(C) burglary under Section 30.02, Penal Code, if |
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the offense is punishable under Subsection (d) of that section and |
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the defendant committed the offense with the intent to commit an |
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offense described by Subdivision (1)(B) or (D) of this article or |
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Paragraph (B) of this subdivision; |
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(6) ten years from the 18th birthday of the victim of |
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the offense: |
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(A) trafficking of a child [persons] under |
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Section 20A.02(a)(5) or (6), Penal Code; |
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(B) injury to a child under Section 22.04, Penal |
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Code; or |
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(C) bigamy under Section 25.01, Penal Code, if |
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the investigation of the offense shows that the person, other than |
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the legal spouse of the defendant, whom the defendant marries or |
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purports to marry or with whom the defendant lives under the |
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appearance of being married is younger than 18 years of age at the |
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time the offense is committed; |
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(7) ten years from the date the offense was |
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discovered: trafficking of a person with a disability under Section |
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20A.02(a)(5) or (6), Penal Code; |
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(8) two years from the date the offense was |
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discovered: sexual assault punishable as a state jail felony under |
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Section 22.011(f)(2), Penal Code; or |
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(9) [(8)] three years from the date of the commission |
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of the offense: all other felonies. |
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SECTION 6. Section 2(a), Article 38.37, Code of Criminal |
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Procedure, is amended to read as follows: |
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(a) Subsection (b) applies only to the trial of a defendant |
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for: |
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(1) an offense under any of the following provisions |
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of the Penal Code: |
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(A) Section 20A.02, if punishable as a felony of |
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the first degree under Section 20A.02(b)(1) (Labor or Sex |
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Trafficking of a Child or a Person with a Disability); |
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(B) Section 21.02 (Continuous Sexual Abuse of |
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Young Child or Disabled Individual); |
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(C) Section 21.11 (Indecency With a Child); |
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(D) Section 22.011(a)(2) (Sexual Assault of a |
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Child); |
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(E) Sections 22.021(a)(1)(B) and (2) (Aggravated |
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Sexual Assault of a Child); |
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(F) Section 33.021 (Online Solicitation of a |
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Minor); |
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(G) Section 43.25 (Sexual Performance by a |
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Child); or |
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(H) Section 43.26 (Possession or Promotion of |
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Child Pornography), Penal Code; or |
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(2) an attempt or conspiracy to commit an offense |
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described by Subdivision (1). |
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SECTION 7. Article 62.101(a), Code of Criminal Procedure, |
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is amended to read as follows: |
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(a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) and Subchapter I, |
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the duty to register for a person ends when the person dies if the |
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person has a reportable conviction or adjudication, other than an |
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adjudication of delinquent conduct, for: |
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(1) a sexually violent offense; |
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(2) an offense under Section 20A.02(a)(3), (4), (7), |
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or (8), 25.02, 43.05(a)(2) or (3), or 43.26, Penal Code; |
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(3) an offense under Section 20A.03, Penal Code, if |
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based partly or wholly on conduct that constitutes an offense under |
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Section 20A.02(a)(3), (4), (7), or (8) of that code; |
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(4) an offense under Section 21.11(a)(2), Penal Code, |
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if before or after the person is convicted or adjudicated for the |
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offense under Section 21.11(a)(2), Penal Code, the person receives |
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or has received another reportable conviction or adjudication, |
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other than an adjudication of delinquent conduct, for an offense or |
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conduct that requires registration under this chapter; |
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(5) an offense under Section 20.02, 20.03, or 20.04, |
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Penal Code, if: |
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(A) the judgment in the case contains an |
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affirmative finding under Article 42.015 or, for a deferred |
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adjudication, the papers in the case contain an affirmative finding |
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that the victim or intended victim was younger than 17 years of age; |
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and |
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(B) before or after the person is convicted or |
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adjudicated for the offense under Section 20.02, 20.03, or 20.04, |
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Penal Code, the person receives or has received another reportable |
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conviction or adjudication, other than an adjudication of |
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delinquent conduct, for an offense or conduct that requires |
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registration under this chapter; or |
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(6) an offense under Section 43.23, Penal Code, that |
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is punishable under Subsection (h) of that section. |
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SECTION 8. Section 772.0062(a)(1), Government Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(1) "Child sex trafficking" means conduct |
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constituting an offense [prohibited] under Section 20A.02(a)(7) or |
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(8), Penal Code, that is committed against a child. |
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SECTION 9. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. |
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An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is |
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governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed, |
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and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For |
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purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the |
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effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred |
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before that date. |
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SECTION 10. To the extent of any conflict, this Act prevails |
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over another Act of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023, |
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relating to nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in enacted |
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codes. |
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SECTION 11. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |