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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the prosecution and punishment of a criminal offense |
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relating to making false statements or reports of child abuse or |
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neglect. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 261.107(a), Family Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) A person commits an offense if, with the intent to |
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deceive, the person knowingly makes a report as provided in this |
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chapter that is false. An offense under this subsection is: |
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(1) a state jail felony; or |
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(2) [unless it is shown on the trial of the offense |
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that the person has previously been convicted under this section, |
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in which case the offense is] a felony of the third degree if it is |
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shown on the trial of the offense that the person: |
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(A) has previously been convicted under this |
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section; or |
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(B) committed the offense because of bias or |
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prejudice as described by Article 42.014, Code of Criminal |
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Procedure. |
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SECTION 2. Section 261.107(a), Family Code, as amended by |
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this Act, applies only to an offense committed on or after the |
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effective date of this Act. An offense committed before the |
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effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the |
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date the offense was committed, and the former law is continued in |
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effect for that purpose. For purposes of this section, an offense |
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was committed before the effective date of this Act if any element |
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of the offense occurred before that date. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |