By:  Wise                                                         H.B. No. 59 



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the prosecution of and punishment for the offenses of 
kidnapping and aggravated kidnapping.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.   Section 20.03(c), Penal Code, is amended to read 
as follows:    
	(c)  An offense under this section is a felony of the third 
degree, except that an offense under this section is a felony of the 
second degree if the actor exposed the person abducted to a risk of 
serious bodily injury.
	SECTION 2.   Section 20.04(a), Penal Code, is amended to read 
as follows:    
	(a)  A person commits an offense if:                                    
		(1)  the person [he] intentionally or knowingly abducts 
another person with the intent to:
			(A) [(1)]  hold the person abducted [him] for 
ransom or reward or to coerce a third person to perform some act;
			(B) [(2)]  use the person abducted [him] as a 
shield or hostage;
			(C) [(3)]  facilitate the commission of a felony 
or the flight after the attempt or commission of a felony;
			(D) [(4)]  inflict bodily injury on the person 
abducted [him] or violate or abuse the person abducted [him] 
sexually;
			(E) [(5)]  terrorize the person abducted [him] or 
a third person; [or]
			(F) [(6)]  interfere with the performance of any 
governmental or political function; or
			(G)  hold the person abducted in a condition of 
involuntary servitude; or
		(2)  the person intentionally or knowingly abducts 
another person who is:
			(A)  younger than 17 years of age; or                                 
			(B)  incompetent.                                                     
	SECTION 3.   (a)  The change in law made by this Act applies 
only to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this 
Act.  For purposes of this section, an offense is committed before 
the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurs 
before that date.
	(b)  An offense committed before the effective date of this 
Act is covered by the law in effect when the offense was committed, 
and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
	SECTION 4.   This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.