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House Bill 260 |
House Author: Hilderbran et al. |
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Effective: 9-1-11 |
Senate Sponsor: Patrick |
House Bill 260 amends the Penal Code to replace the offense of unlawful transport of a person with the offense of smuggling of persons and to revise the conduct that constitutes the state jail felony offense. The bill enhances the penalty for smuggling of persons to a third degree felony under certain circumstances, provides an affirmative defense to prosecution for the offense if the actor is related to the transported individual within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity, and establishes venue for the prosecution of the offense. The bill amends the Code of Criminal Procedure to include the offense of smuggling of persons within the scope of the offense of engaging in organized criminal activity and the definition of criminal contraband.