| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the required report of criminal offenses committed |
|
|
against individuals receiving certain state agency services; |
|
|
creating a criminal offense. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 40, Human Resources Code, |
|
|
is amended by adding Section 40.082 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 40.082. REPORT OF CRIMINAL CONDUCT; PENALTY. (a) Each |
|
|
employee of the department or of a department contractor who |
|
|
becomes aware of conduct constituting a criminal offense engaged in |
|
|
by another employee of the department or by a department contractor |
|
|
against a person receiving services from the department or a |
|
|
department contractor shall report the conduct to the Department of |
|
|
Public Safety. |
|
|
(b) A person commits an offense if the person is required to |
|
|
make a report under Subsection (a) and knowingly fails to make the |
|
|
report. |
|
|
(c) An offense under Subsection (b) is a Class A |
|
|
misdemeanor, except that the offense is a state jail felony if it is |
|
|
shown on the trial of the offense that the actor intended to hinder |
|
|
an investigation of or conceal the criminal conduct described by |
|
|
Subsection (a). |
|
|
SECTION 2. Chapter 203, Human Resources Code, is amended by |
|
|
adding Section 203.020 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 203.020. REPORT OF CRIMINAL CONDUCT; PENALTY. (a) |
|
|
Each employee of the department or of a department contractor who |
|
|
becomes aware of conduct constituting a criminal offense engaged in |
|
|
by another employee of the department or by a department contractor |
|
|
against a person receiving services from the department or a |
|
|
department contractor shall report the conduct to the Department of |
|
|
Public Safety. |
|
|
(b) A person commits an offense if the person is required to |
|
|
make a report under Subsection (a) and knowingly fails to make the |
|
|
report. |
|
|
(c) An offense under Subsection (b) is a Class A |
|
|
misdemeanor, except that the offense is a state jail felony if it is |
|
|
shown on the trial of the offense that the actor intended to hinder |
|
|
an investigation of or conceal the criminal conduct described by |
|
|
Subsection (a). |
|
|
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |