1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the creation of the offense of coercing, soliciting, or 1-3 inducing a child to participate in the activities of a criminal 1-4 street gang. 1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-6 SECTION 1. Chapter 22, Penal Code, is amended by adding 1-7 Section 22.015 to read as follows: 1-8 Sec. 22.015. COERCING, SOLICITING, OR INDUCING GANG 1-9 MEMBERSHIP. (a) In this section: 1-10 (1) "Child" means an individual younger than 17 years 1-11 of age. 1-12 (2) "Criminal street gang" has the meaning assigned by 1-13 Section 71.01. 1-14 (b) A person commits an offense if, with intent to coerce, 1-15 induce, or solicit a child to actively participate in the 1-16 activities of a criminal street gang, the person: 1-17 (1) threatens the child with imminent bodily injury; 1-18 or 1-19 (2) causes bodily injury to the child. 1-20 (c) An offense under Subsection (b)(1) is a state jail 1-21 felony. An offense under Subsection (b)(2) is a felony of the 1-22 third degree. 1-23 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999. 1-24 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 2-1 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-2 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-3 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-4 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended. _______________________________ _______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House I certify that H.B. No. 861 was passed by the House on April 28, 1999, by a non-record vote. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House I certify that H.B. No. 861 was passed by the Senate on May 26, 1999, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0. _______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: _____________________ Date _____________________ Governor