1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to creating an offense for transporting an individual
 1-3     under certain circumstances.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Chapter 20, Penal Code, is amended by adding
 1-6     Section 20.05 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 20.05.  UNLAWFUL TRANSPORT.  (a)  A person commits an
 1-8     offense if the person for pecuniary benefit transports an
 1-9     individual in a manner that:
1-10                 (1)  is designed to conceal the individual from local,
1-11     state, or federal law enforcement authorities; and
1-12                 (2)  creates a substantial likelihood that the
1-13     individual will suffer serious bodily injury or death.
1-14           (b)  An offense under this section is a state jail felony.
1-15           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
1-16           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-17     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-18     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-19     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-20     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. 2879 was passed by the House on May
         8, 1999, by a non-record vote; and that the House concurred in
         Senate amendments to H.B. No. 2879 on May 26, 1999, by a non-record
         vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 2879 was passed by the Senate, with
         amendments, on May 24, 1999, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays
         0.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
         APPROVED:  _____________________
                            Date
                    _____________________
                          Governor