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