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AN ACT
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relating to the prosecution, punishment, and supervision of certain |
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sex offenders and to certain crimes involving sex offenders. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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ARTICLE 1. CREATION, PROSECUTION, AND PUNISHMENT OF OFFENSES |
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SECTION 1.01. This Act shall be known as the Jessica |
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Lunsford Act. |
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SECTION 1.02. Chapter 2, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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amended by adding Article 2.021 to read as follows: |
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Art. 2.021. DUTIES OF ATTORNEY GENERAL. The attorney |
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general may offer to a county or district attorney the assistance of |
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the attorney general's office in the prosecution of an offense |
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described by Article 60.051(g) the victim of which is younger than |
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17 years of age at the time the offense is committed. On request of |
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a county or district attorney, the attorney general shall assist in |
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the prosecution of an offense described by Article 60.051(g) the |
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victim of which is younger than 17 years of age at the time the |
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offense is committed. For purposes of this article, assistance |
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includes investigative, technical, and litigation assistance of |
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the attorney general's office. |
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SECTION 1.03. Article 12.01, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Art. 12.01. FELONIES. Except as provided in Article 12.03, |
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felony indictments may be presented within these limits, and not |
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afterward: |
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(1) no limitation: |
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(A) murder and manslaughter; |
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(B) sexual assault under Section 22.011(a)(2), |
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Penal Code, or aggravated sexual assault under Section |
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22.021(a)(1)(B), Penal Code; |
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(C) sexual assault, if during the investigation |
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of the offense biological matter is collected and subjected to |
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forensic DNA testing and the testing results show that the matter |
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does not match the victim or any other person whose identity is |
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readily ascertained; |
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(D) continuous sexual abuse of young child or |
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children under Section 21.02, Penal Code; |
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(E) indecency with a child under Section 21.11, |
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Penal Code; or |
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(F) [(C)] an offense involving leaving the scene |
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of an accident under Section 550.021, Transportation Code, if the |
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accident resulted in the death of a person; |
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(2) ten years from the date of the commission of the |
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offense: |
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(A) theft of any estate, real, personal or mixed, |
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by an executor, administrator, guardian or trustee, with intent to |
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defraud any creditor, heir, legatee, ward, distributee, |
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beneficiary or settlor of a trust interested in such estate; |
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(B) theft by a public servant of government |
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property over which he exercises control in his official capacity; |
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(C) forgery or the uttering, using or passing of |
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forged instruments; |
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(D) injury to a child, elderly individual, or |
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disabled individual punishable as a felony of the first degree |
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under Section 22.04, Penal Code; |
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(E) sexual assault, except as provided by |
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Subdivision (1) or (5); or |
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(F) arson; |
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(3) seven years from the date of the commission of the |
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offense: |
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(A) misapplication of fiduciary property or |
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property of a financial institution; |
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(B) securing execution of document by deception; |
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or |
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(C) a violation under Sections 162.403(22)-(39), |
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Tax Code; |
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(4) five years from the date of the commission of the |
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offense: |
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(A) theft or[, burglary,] robbery; |
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(B) except as provided by Subdivision (5), |
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kidnapping or burglary; |
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(C) injury to a child, elderly individual, or |
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disabled individual that is not punishable as a felony of the first |
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degree under Section 22.04, Penal Code; |
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(D) abandoning or endangering a child; or |
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(E) insurance fraud; |
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(5) if the investigation of the offense shows that the |
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victim is younger than 17 years of age at the time the offense is |
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committed, 20 years from the 18th birthday of the victim of one of |
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the following offenses: |
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(A) sexual performance by a child under Section |
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43.25, Penal Code; |
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(B) aggravated kidnapping under Section |
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20.04(a)(4), Penal Code, if the defendant committed the offense |
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with the intent to violate or abuse the victim sexually; or |
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(C) burglary under Section 30.02, Penal Code, if |
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the offense is punishable under Subsection (d) of that section and |
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the defendant committed the offense with the intent to commit an |
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offense described by Subdivision (1)(B) or (D) of this article or |
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Paragraph (B) of this subdivision [ten years from the 18th birthday
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of the victim of the offense:
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[(A) indecency with a child under Section
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21.11(a)(1) or (2), Penal Code; or
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[(B) except as provided by Subdivision (1),
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sexual assault under Section 22.011(a)(2), Penal Code, or
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aggravated sexual assault under Section 22.021(a)(1)(B), Penal
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Code]; or |
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(6) three years from the date of the commission of the |
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offense: all other felonies. |
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SECTION 1.04. Chapter 37, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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amended by adding Article 37.072 to read as follows: |
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Art. 37.072. PROCEDURE IN REPEAT SEX OFFENDER CAPITAL CASE |
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Sec. 1. If a defendant is found guilty in a capital felony |
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case punishable under Section 12.42(c)(3), Penal Code, in which the |
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state does not seek the death penalty, the judge shall sentence the |
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defendant to life imprisonment without parole. |
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Sec. 2. (a)(1) If a defendant is tried for an offense |
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punishable under Section 12.42(c)(3), Penal Code, in which the |
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state seeks the death penalty, on a finding that the defendant is |
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guilty of a capital offense, the court shall conduct a separate |
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sentencing proceeding to determine whether the defendant shall be |
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sentenced to death or life imprisonment without parole. The |
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proceeding shall be conducted in the trial court and, except as |
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provided by Article 44.29(d) of this code, before the trial jury as |
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soon as practicable. In the proceeding, evidence may be presented |
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by the state and the defendant or the defendant's counsel as to any |
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matter that the court considers relevant to sentence, including |
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evidence of the defendant's background or character or the |
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circumstances of the offense that mitigates against the imposition |
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of the death penalty. This subdivision may not be construed to |
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authorize the introduction of any evidence secured in violation of |
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the Constitution of the United States or of the State of Texas. The |
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state and the defendant or the defendant's counsel shall be |
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permitted to present argument for or against sentence of death. The |
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introduction of evidence of extraneous conduct is governed by the |
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notice requirements of Section 3(g), Article 37.07. The court, the |
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attorney representing the state, the defendant, or the defendant's |
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counsel may not inform a juror or a prospective juror of the effect |
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of a failure of a jury to agree on issues submitted under Subsection |
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(b) or (e). |
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(2) Notwithstanding Subdivision (1), evidence may not |
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be offered by the state to establish that the race or ethnicity of |
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the defendant makes it likely that the defendant will engage in |
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future criminal conduct. |
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(b) On conclusion of the presentation of the evidence, the |
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court shall submit the following issues to the jury: |
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(1) whether there is a probability that the defendant |
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would commit criminal acts of violence that would constitute a |
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continuing threat to society; and |
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(2) in cases in which the jury charge at the guilt or |
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innocence stage permitted the jury to find the defendant guilty as a |
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party under Sections 7.01 and 7.02, Penal Code, whether the |
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defendant actually engaged in the conduct prohibited by Section |
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22.021, Penal Code, or did not actually engage in the conduct |
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prohibited by Section 22.021, Penal Code, but intended that the |
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offense be committed against the victim or another intended victim. |
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(c) The state must prove beyond a reasonable doubt each |
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issue submitted under Subsection (b) of this section, and the jury |
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shall return a special verdict of "yes" or "no" on each issue |
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submitted under Subsection (b) of this section. |
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(d) The court shall charge the jury that: |
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(1) in deliberating on the issues submitted under |
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Subsection (b) of this section, it shall consider all evidence |
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admitted at the guilt or innocence stage and the punishment stage, |
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including evidence of the defendant's background or character or |
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the circumstances of the offense that militates for or mitigates |
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against the imposition of the death penalty; |
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(2) it may not answer any issue submitted under |
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Subsection (b) of this section "yes" unless it agrees unanimously |
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and it may not answer any issue "no" unless 10 or more jurors agree; |
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and |
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(3) members of the jury need not agree on what |
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particular evidence supports a negative answer to any issue |
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submitted under Subsection (b) of this section. |
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(e)(1) The court shall instruct the jury that if the jury |
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returns an affirmative finding to each issue submitted under |
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Subsection (b), it shall answer the following issue: |
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Whether, taking into consideration all of the evidence, |
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including the circumstances of the offense, the defendant's |
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character and background, and the personal moral culpability of the |
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defendant, there is a sufficient mitigating circumstance or |
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circumstances to warrant that a sentence of life imprisonment |
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without parole rather than a death sentence be imposed. |
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(2) The court shall: |
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(A) instruct the jury that if the jury answers |
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that a circumstance or circumstances warrant that a sentence of |
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life imprisonment without parole rather than a death sentence be |
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imposed, the court will sentence the defendant to imprisonment in |
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the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for life without parole; |
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and |
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(B) charge the jury that a defendant sentenced to |
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confinement for life without parole under this article is |
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ineligible for release from the department on parole. |
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(f) The court shall charge the jury that in answering the |
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issue submitted under Subsection (e) of this section, the jury: |
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(1) shall answer the issue "yes" or "no"; |
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(2) may not answer the issue "no" unless it agrees |
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unanimously and may not answer the issue "yes" unless 10 or more |
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jurors agree; |
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(3) need not agree on what particular evidence |
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supports an affirmative finding on the issue; and |
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(4) shall consider mitigating evidence to be evidence |
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that a juror might regard as reducing the defendant's moral |
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blameworthiness. |
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(g) If the jury returns an affirmative finding on each issue |
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submitted under Subsection (b) and a negative finding on an issue |
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submitted under Subsection (e)(1), the court shall sentence the |
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defendant to death. If the jury returns a negative finding on any |
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issue submitted under Subsection (b) or an affirmative finding on |
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an issue submitted under Subsection (e)(1) or is unable to answer |
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any issue submitted under Subsection (b) or (e), the court shall |
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sentence the defendant to imprisonment in the Texas Department of |
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Criminal Justice for life without parole. |
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(h) The judgment of conviction and sentence of death shall |
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be subject to automatic review by the Court of Criminal Appeals. |
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SECTION 1.05. Section 3g(a), Article 42.12, Code of |
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Criminal Procedure, is amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The provisions of Section 3 of this article do not |
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apply: |
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(1) to a defendant adjudged guilty of an offense |
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under: |
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(A) Section 19.02, Penal Code (Murder); |
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(B) Section 19.03, Penal Code (Capital murder); |
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(C) Section 21.11(a)(1), Penal Code (Indecency |
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with a child); |
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(D) Section 20.04, Penal Code (Aggravated |
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kidnapping); |
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(E) Section 22.021, Penal Code (Aggravated |
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sexual assault); |
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(F) Section 29.03, Penal Code (Aggravated |
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robbery); |
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(G) Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code, for |
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which punishment is increased under: |
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(i) Section 481.140, Health and Safety |
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Code; or |
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(ii) Section 481.134(c), (d), (e), or (f), |
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Health and Safety Code, if it is shown that the defendant has been |
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previously convicted of an offense for which punishment was |
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increased under any of those subsections; [or] |
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(H) Section 22.011, Penal Code (Sexual assault); |
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or |
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(I) Section 43.25, Penal Code (Sexual |
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performance by a child); or |
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(2) to a defendant when it is shown that a deadly |
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weapon as defined in Section 1.07, Penal Code, was used or exhibited |
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during the commission of a felony offense or during immediate |
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flight therefrom, and that the defendant used or exhibited the |
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deadly weapon or was a party to the offense and knew that a deadly |
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weapon would be used or exhibited. On an affirmative finding under |
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this subdivision, the trial court shall enter the finding in the |
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judgment of the court. On an affirmative finding that the deadly |
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weapon was a firearm, the court shall enter that finding in its |
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judgment. |
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SECTION 1.06. Section 4(d), Article 42.12, Code of Criminal |
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Procedure, is amended to read as follows: |
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(d) A defendant is not eligible for community supervision |
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under this section if the defendant: |
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(1) is sentenced to a term of imprisonment that |
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exceeds 10 years; |
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(2) is convicted of a state jail felony for which |
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suspension of the imposition of the sentence occurs automatically |
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under Section 15(a); |
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(3) does not file a sworn motion under Subsection (e) |
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of this section or for whom the jury does not enter in the verdict a |
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finding that the information contained in the motion is true; [or] |
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(4) is convicted [adjudged guilty] of an offense for |
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which punishment is increased under Section 481.134(c), (d), (e), |
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or (f), Health and Safety Code, if it is shown that the defendant |
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has been previously convicted of an offense for which punishment |
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was increased under any one of those subsections; |
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(5) is convicted of an offense listed in Section |
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3g(a)(1)(C), (E), or (H), if the victim of the offense was younger |
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than 14 years of age at the time the offense was committed; |
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(6) is convicted of an offense listed in Section |
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3g(a)(1)(D), if the victim of the offense was younger than 14 years |
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of age at the time the offense was committed and the actor committed |
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the offense with the intent to violate or abuse the victim sexually; |
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or |
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(7) is convicted of an offense listed in Section |
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3g(a)(1)(I). |
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SECTION 1.07. Section 5(d), Article 42.12, Code of Criminal |
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Procedure, is amended to read as follows: |
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(d) In all other cases the judge may grant deferred |
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adjudication unless: |
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(1) the defendant is charged with an offense: |
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(A) under Section 49.04, 49.05, 49.06, 49.07, or |
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49.08, Penal Code; or |
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(B) for which punishment may be increased under |
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Section 481.134(c), (d), (e), or (f), Health and Safety Code, if it |
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is shown that the defendant has been previously convicted of an |
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offense for which punishment was increased under any one of those |
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subsections; [or] |
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(2) the defendant: |
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(A) is charged with an offense under Section |
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21.11, 22.011, or 22.021, Penal Code, regardless of the age of the |
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victim, or a felony described by Section 13B(b) of this article; and |
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(B) has previously been placed on community |
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supervision for any offense under Paragraph (A) of this |
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subdivision; or |
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(3) the defendant is charged with an offense under: |
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(A) Section 21.02, Penal Code; or |
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(B) Section 22.021, Penal Code, that is |
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punishable under Subsection (f) of that section or under Section |
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12.42(c)(3), Penal Code. |
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SECTION 1.08. Article 60.051, Code of Criminal Procedure, |
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is amended by adding Subsection (g) to read as follows: |
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(g) In addition to the information described by Subsections |
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(a)-(f), information in the computerized criminal history system |
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must include the age of the victim of the offense if the defendant |
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was arrested for or charged with an offense under: |
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(1) Section 21.02 (Continuous sexual abuse of young |
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child or children), Penal Code; |
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(2) Section 21.11 (Indecency with a child), Penal |
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Code; |
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(3) Section 22.011 (Sexual assault) or 22.021 |
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(Aggravated sexual assault), Penal Code; |
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(4) Section 43.25 (Sexual performance by a child), |
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Penal Code; |
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(5) Section 20.04(a)(4) (Aggravated kidnapping), |
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Penal Code, if the defendant committed the offense with intent to |
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violate or abuse the victim sexually; or |
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(6) Section 30.02 (Burglary), Penal Code, if the |
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offense is punishable under Subsection (d) of that section and the |
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defendant committed the offense with intent to commit an offense |
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described by Subdivision (2), (3), or (5). |
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SECTION 1.09. Subchapter C, Chapter 499, Government Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 499.054 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 499.054. SEX OFFENDER TREATMENT PROGRAM. (a) In this |
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section, "sex offender treatment program" means a comprehensive |
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treatment program that: |
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(1) psychologically evaluates inmates who are serving |
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a sentence for an offense described by Section 12.42(c)(2), Penal |
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Code; |
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(2) addresses the motivation and psychosocial |
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education of inmates described by Subdivision (1); and |
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(3) provides relapse prevention training for inmates |
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described by Subdivision (1), including interruption of cognitive |
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and behavioral patterns that have led the inmate to commit criminal |
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offenses. |
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(b) The department shall establish a sex offender treatment |
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program to treat inmates who are serving sentences for offenses |
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punishable under Section 21.02(h) or 22.021(f), Penal Code. The |
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department shall require an inmate described by this subsection to |
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participate in and complete the sex offender treatment program |
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before being released from the department. |
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(c) The department may establish a sex offender treatment |
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program to treat inmates other than those inmates described by |
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Subsection (b). |
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SECTION 1.10. Sections 508.145(a) and (d), Government Code, |
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are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) An inmate under sentence of death, [or] serving a |
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sentence of life imprisonment without parole, serving a sentence |
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for an offense under Section 21.02, Penal Code, or serving a |
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sentence for an offense under Section 22.021, Penal Code, that is |
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punishable under Subsection (f) of that section is not eligible for |
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release on parole. |
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(d) An inmate serving a sentence for an offense described by |
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Section 3g(a)(1)(A), (C), (D), (E), (F), (G), [or] (H), or (I), |
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Article 42.12, Code of Criminal Procedure, or for an offense for |
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which the judgment contains an affirmative finding under Section |
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3g(a)(2) of that article, is not eligible for release on parole |
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until the inmate's actual calendar time served, without |
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consideration of good conduct time, equals one-half of the sentence |
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or 30 calendar years, whichever is less, but in no event is the |
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inmate eligible for release on parole in less than two calendar |
|
years. |
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SECTION 1.11. Section 508.149(a), Government Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) An inmate may not be released to mandatory supervision |
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if the inmate is serving a sentence for or has been previously |
|
convicted of: |
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(1) an offense for which the judgment contains an |
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affirmative finding under Section 3g(a)(2), Article 42.12, Code of |
|
Criminal Procedure; |
|
(2) a first degree felony or a second degree felony |
|
under Section 19.02, Penal Code; |
|
(3) a capital felony under Section 19.03, Penal Code; |
|
(4) a first degree felony or a second degree felony |
|
under Section 20.04, Penal Code; |
|
(5) an offense [a second degree felony or a third
|
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degree felony] under Section 21.11, Penal Code; |
|
(6) a [second degree] felony under Section 22.011, |
|
Penal Code; |
|
(7) a first degree felony or a second degree felony |
|
under Section 22.02, Penal Code; |
|
(8) a first degree felony under Section 22.021, Penal |
|
Code; |
|
(9) a first degree felony under Section 22.04, Penal |
|
Code; |
|
(10) a first degree felony under Section 28.02, Penal |
|
Code; |
|
(11) a second degree felony under Section 29.02, Penal |
|
Code; |
|
(12) a first degree felony under Section 29.03, Penal |
|
Code; |
|
(13) a first degree felony under Section 30.02, Penal |
|
Code; [or] |
|
(14) a felony for which the punishment is increased |
|
under Section 481.134 or Section 481.140, Health and Safety Code; |
|
(15) an offense under Section 43.25, Penal Code; or |
|
(16) an offense under Section 21.02, Penal Code. |
|
SECTION 1.12. Section 841.082, Health and Safety Code, is |
|
amended by adding Subsection (b) to read as follows: |
|
(b) A tracking service to which a person is required to |
|
submit under Subsection (a)(5) must: |
|
(1) track the person's location in real time; |
|
(2) be able to provide a real-time report of the |
|
person's location to the case manager at the case manager's request; |
|
and |
|
(3) periodically provide a cumulative report of the |
|
person's location to the case manager. |
|
SECTION 1.13. Subchapter E, Chapter 841, Health and Safety |
|
Code, is amended by adding Section 841.084 to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 841.084. COST OF TRACKING SERVICE. Notwithstanding |
|
Section 841.146(c), a civilly committed person who is not indigent |
|
is responsible for the cost of the tracking service required by |
|
Section 841.082 and monthly shall pay to the council the amount that |
|
the council determines will be necessary to defray the cost of |
|
operating the service with respect to the person during the |
|
subsequent month. The council immediately shall transfer the money |
|
to the appropriate service provider. |
|
SECTION 1.14. Section 12.42(b), Penal Code, is amended to |
|
read as follows: |
|
(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c)(2), if [If] it is |
|
shown on the trial of a second-degree felony that the defendant has |
|
been once before convicted of a felony, on conviction he shall be |
|
punished for a first-degree felony. |
|
SECTION 1.15. Section 12.42(c), Penal Code, is amended to |
|
read as follows: |
|
(c)(1) If [Except as provided by Subdivision (2), if] it is |
|
shown on the trial of a first-degree felony that the defendant has |
|
been once before convicted of a felony, on conviction he shall be |
|
punished by imprisonment in the [institutional division of the] |
|
Texas Department of Criminal Justice for life, or for any term of |
|
not more than 99 years or less than 15 years. In addition to |
|
imprisonment, an individual may be punished by a fine not to exceed |
|
$10,000. |
|
(2) Notwithstanding Subdivision (1), a [A] defendant |
|
shall be punished by imprisonment in the Texas Department of |
|
Criminal Justice [institutional division] for life if: |
|
(A) the defendant is convicted of an offense: |
|
(i) under Section 21.11(a)(1), 22.021, or |
|
22.011, Penal Code; |
|
(ii) under Section 20.04(a)(4), Penal Code, |
|
if the defendant committed the offense with the intent to violate or |
|
abuse the victim sexually; or |
|
(iii) under Section 30.02, Penal Code, |
|
punishable under Subsection (d) of that section, if the defendant |
|
committed the offense with the intent to commit a felony described |
|
by Subparagraph (i) or (ii) or a felony under Section 21.11 [or
|
|
22.011], Penal Code; and |
|
(B) the defendant has been previously convicted |
|
of an offense: |
|
(i) under Section 43.25 or 43.26, Penal |
|
Code, or an offense under Section 43.23, Penal Code, punishable |
|
under Subsection (h) of that section; |
|
(ii) under Section 21.02, 21.11, 22.011, |
|
22.021, or 25.02, Penal Code; |
|
(iii) under Section 20.04(a)(4), Penal |
|
Code, if the defendant committed the offense with the intent to |
|
violate or abuse the victim sexually; |
|
(iv) under Section 30.02, Penal Code, |
|
punishable under Subsection (d) of that section, if the defendant |
|
committed the offense with the intent to commit a felony described |
|
by Subparagraph (ii) or (iii); or |
|
(v) under the laws of another state |
|
containing elements that are substantially similar to the elements |
|
of an offense listed in Subparagraph (i), (ii), (iii), or (iv). |
|
(3) Notwithstanding Subdivision (1) or (2), a |
|
defendant shall be punished for a capital felony if it is shown on |
|
the trial of an offense under Section 22.021 otherwise punishable |
|
under Subsection (f) of that section that the defendant has |
|
previously been finally convicted of: |
|
(A) an offense under Section 22.021 that was |
|
committed against a victim described by Section 22.021(f)(1) or was |
|
committed against a victim described by Section 22.021(f)(2) and in |
|
a manner described by Section 22.021(a)(2)(A); or |
|
(B) an offense that was committed under the laws |
|
of another state that: |
|
(i) contains elements that are |
|
substantially similar to the elements of an offense under Section |
|
22.021; and |
|
(ii) was committed against a victim |
|
described by Section 22.021(f)(1) or was committed against a victim |
|
described by Section 22.021(f)(2) and in a manner substantially |
|
similar to a manner described by Section 22.021(a)(2)(A). |
|
(4) Notwithstanding Subdivision (1) or (2), a |
|
defendant shall be punished by imprisonment in the Texas Department |
|
of Criminal Justice for life without parole if it is shown on the |
|
trial of an offense under Section 21.02 that the defendant has |
|
previously been finally convicted of: |
|
(A) an offense under Section 21.02; or |
|
(B) an offense that was committed under the laws |
|
of another state and that contains elements that are substantially |
|
similar to the elements of an offense under Section 21.02. |
|
SECTION 1.16. Section 12.42(d), Penal Code, is amended to |
|
read as follows: |
|
(d) Except as provided by Subsection (c)(2), if [If] it is |
|
shown on the trial of a felony offense other than a state jail |
|
felony punishable under Section 12.35(a) that the defendant has |
|
previously been finally convicted of two felony offenses, and the |
|
second previous felony conviction is for an offense that occurred |
|
subsequent to the first previous conviction having become final, on |
|
conviction he shall be punished by imprisonment in the |
|
institutional division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice |
|
for life, or for any term of not more than 99 years or less than 25 |
|
years. |
|
SECTION 1.17. Chapter 21, Penal Code, is amended by adding |
|
Section 21.02 to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 21.02. CONTINUOUS SEXUAL ABUSE OF YOUNG CHILD OR |
|
CHILDREN. (a) In this section, "child" has the meaning assigned by |
|
Section 22.011(c). |
|
(b) A person commits an offense if: |
|
(1) during a period that is 30 or more days in |
|
duration, the person commits two or more acts of sexual abuse, |
|
regardless of whether the acts of sexual abuse are committed |
|
against one or more victims; and |
|
(2) at the time of the commission of each of the acts |
|
of sexual abuse, the actor is 17 years of age or older and the victim |
|
is a child younger than 14 years of age. |
|
(c) For purposes of this section, "act of sexual abuse" |
|
means any act that is a violation of one or more of the following |
|
penal laws: |
|
(1) aggravated kidnapping under Section 20.04(a)(4), |
|
if the actor committed the offense with the intent to violate or |
|
abuse the victim sexually; |
|
(2) indecency with a child under Section 21.11(a)(1), |
|
if the actor committed the offense in a manner other than by |
|
touching, including touching through clothing, the breast of a |
|
child; |
|
(3) sexual assault under Section 22.011; |
|
(4) aggravated sexual assault under Section 22.021; |
|
(5) burglary under Section 30.02, if the offense is |
|
punishable under Subsection (d) of that section and the actor |
|
committed the offense with the intent to commit an offense listed in |
|
Subdivisions (1)-(4); and |
|
(6) sexual performance by a child under Section 43.25. |
|
(d) If a jury is the trier of fact, members of the jury are |
|
not required to agree unanimously on which specific acts of sexual |
|
abuse were committed by the defendant or the exact date when those |
|
acts were committed. The jury must agree unanimously that the |
|
defendant, during a period that is 30 or more days in duration, |
|
committed two or more acts of sexual abuse. |
|
(e) A defendant may not be convicted in the same criminal |
|
action of an offense listed under Subsection (c) the victim of which |
|
is the same victim as a victim of the offense alleged under |
|
Subsection (b) unless the offense listed in Subsection (c): |
|
(1) is charged in the alternative; |
|
(2) occurred outside the period in which the offense |
|
alleged under Subsection (b) was committed; or |
|
(3) is considered by the trier of fact to be a lesser |
|
included offense of the offense alleged under Subsection (b). |
|
(f) A defendant may not be charged with more than one count |
|
under Subsection (b) if all of the specific acts of sexual abuse |
|
that are alleged to have been committed are alleged to have been |
|
committed against a single victim. |
|
(g) It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under this |
|
section that the actor: |
|
(1) was not more than five years older than: |
|
(A) the victim of the offense, if the offense is |
|
alleged to have been committed against only one victim; or |
|
(B) the youngest victim of the offense, if the |
|
offense is alleged to have been committed against more than one |
|
victim; |
|
(2) did not use duress, force, or a threat against a |
|
victim at the time of the commission of any of the acts of sexual |
|
abuse alleged as an element of the offense; and |
|
(3) at the time of the commission of any of the acts of |
|
sexual abuse alleged as an element of the offense: |
|
(A) was not required under Chapter 62, Code of |
|
Criminal Procedure, to register for life as a sex offender; or |
|
(B) was not a person who under Chapter 62 had a |
|
reportable conviction or adjudication for an offense under this |
|
section or an act of sexual abuse as described by Subsection (c). |
|
(h) An offense under this section is a felony of the first |
|
degree, punishable by imprisonment in the Texas Department of |
|
Criminal Justice for life, or for any term of not more than 99 years |
|
or less than 25 years. |
|
SECTION 1.18. Section 22.021, Penal Code, is amended by |
|
adding Subsection (f) to read as follows: |
|
(f) The minimum term of imprisonment for an offense under |
|
this section is increased to 25 years if: |
|
(1) the victim of the offense is younger than six years |
|
of age at the time the offense is committed; or |
|
(2) the victim of the offense is younger than 14 years |
|
of age at the time the offense is committed and the actor commits |
|
the offense in a manner described by Subsection (a)(2)(A). |
|
SECTION 1.19. Section 38.05, Penal Code, is amended by |
|
amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (d) to read as |
|
follows: |
|
(c) Except as provided by Subsection (d), an [An] offense |
|
under this section is a Class A misdemeanor. |
|
(d) An [, except that the] offense under this section is a |
|
felony of the third degree if the person who is harbored, concealed, |
|
provided with a means of avoiding arrest or effecting escape, or |
|
warned of discovery or apprehension is under arrest for, charged |
|
with, or convicted of a felony, including an offense under Section |
|
62.102, Code of Criminal Procedure, or is in custody or detention |
|
for, is alleged in a petition to have engaged in, or has been |
|
adjudicated as having engaged in delinquent conduct that violates a |
|
penal law of the grade of felony, including an offense under Section |
|
62.102, Code of Criminal Procedure, and the person charged under |
|
this section knew that the person they harbored, concealed, |
|
provided with a means of avoiding arrest or effecting escape, or |
|
warned of discovery or apprehension is under arrest for, charged |
|
with, or convicted of a felony, or is in custody or detention for, |
|
is alleged in a petition to have engaged in, or has been adjudicated |
|
as having engaged in delinquent conduct that violates a penal law of |
|
the grade of felony. |
|
SECTION 1.20. Sections 43.25(c) and (e), Penal Code, are |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(c) An offense under Subsection (b) is a felony of the |
|
second degree, except that the offense is a felony of the first |
|
degree if the victim is younger than 14 years of age at the time the |
|
offense is committed. |
|
(e) An offense under Subsection (d) is a felony of the third |
|
degree, except that the offense is a felony of the second degree if |
|
the victim is younger than 14 years of age at the time the offense is |
|
committed. |
|
ARTICLE 2. PRIORITIZATION OF CASES INVOLVING THE PROSECUTION OF |
|
CERTAIN OFFENSES |
|
SECTION 2.01. Section 23.101(a), Government Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) The trial courts of this state shall regularly and |
|
frequently set hearings and trials of pending matters, giving |
|
preference to hearings and trials of the following: |
|
(1) temporary injunctions; |
|
(2) criminal actions, with the following actions given |
|
preference over other criminal actions: |
|
(A) criminal actions against defendants who are |
|
detained in jail pending trial; |
|
(B) criminal actions involving a charge that a |
|
person committed an act of family violence, as defined by Section |
|
71.004, Family Code; [and] |
|
(C) an offense under: |
|
(i) Section 21.02 or 21.11, Penal Code; |
|
(ii) Chapter 22, Penal Code, if the victim |
|
of the alleged offense is younger than 17 years of age; |
|
(iii) Section 25.02, Penal Code, if the |
|
victim of the alleged offense is younger than 17 years of age; [or] |
|
(iv) Section 25.06, Penal Code; or |
|
(v) Section 43.25, Penal Code; and |
|
(D) an offense described by Article 62.001(6)(C) |
|
or (D), Code of Criminal Procedure; |
|
(3) election contests and suits under the Election |
|
Code; |
|
(4) orders for the protection of the family under |
|
Subtitle B, Title 4, Family Code; |
|
(5) appeals of final rulings and decisions of the |
|
division of workers' compensation of the Texas Department of |
|
Insurance regarding workers' compensation claims and claims under |
|
the Federal Employers' Liability Act and the Jones Act; |
|
(6) appeals of final orders of the commissioner of the |
|
General Land Office under Section 51.3021, Natural Resources Code; |
|
and |
|
(7) actions in which the claimant has been diagnosed |
|
with malignant mesothelioma, other malignant asbestos-related |
|
cancer, malignant silica-related cancer, or acute silicosis. |
|
ARTICLE 3. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS |
|
SECTION 3.01. Section 16.0045(a), Civil Practice and |
|
Remedies Code, is amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) A person must bring suit for personal injury not later |
|
than five years after the day the cause of action accrues if the |
|
injury arises as a result of conduct that violates: |
|
(1) Section 22.011, Penal Code (sexual assault); [or] |
|
(2) Section 22.021, Penal Code (aggravated sexual |
|
assault); or |
|
(3) Section 21.02, Penal Code (continuous sexual abuse |
|
of young child or children). |
|
SECTION 3.02. Section 33.013(b), Civil Practice and |
|
Remedies Code, is amended to read as follows: |
|
(b) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), each liable defendant |
|
is, in addition to his liability under Subsection (a), jointly and |
|
severally liable for the damages recoverable by the claimant under |
|
Section 33.012 with respect to a cause of action if: |
|
(1) the percentage of responsibility attributed to the |
|
defendant with respect to a cause of action is greater than 50 |
|
percent; or |
|
(2) the defendant, with the specific intent to do harm |
|
to others, acted in concert with another person to engage in the |
|
conduct described in the following provisions of the Penal Code and |
|
in so doing proximately caused the damages legally recoverable by |
|
the claimant: |
|
(A) Section 19.02 (murder); |
|
(B) Section 19.03 (capital murder); |
|
(C) Section 20.04 (aggravated kidnapping); |
|
(D) Section 22.02 (aggravated assault); |
|
(E) Section 22.011 (sexual assault); |
|
(F) Section 22.021 (aggravated sexual assault); |
|
(G) Section 22.04 (injury to a child, elderly |
|
individual, or disabled individual); |
|
(H) Section 32.21 (forgery); |
|
(I) Section 32.43 (commercial bribery); |
|
(J) Section 32.45 (misapplication of fiduciary |
|
property or property of financial institution); |
|
(K) Section 32.46 (securing execution of |
|
document by deception); |
|
(L) Section 32.47 (fraudulent destruction, |
|
removal, or concealment of writing); [or] |
|
(M) conduct described in Chapter 31 the |
|
punishment level for which is a felony of the third degree or |
|
higher; or |
|
(N) Section 21.02 (continuous sexual abuse of |
|
young child or children). |
|
SECTION 3.03. Section 41.008(c), Civil Practice and |
|
Remedies Code, is amended to read as follows: |
|
(c) This section does not apply to a cause of action against |
|
a defendant from whom a plaintiff seeks recovery of exemplary |
|
damages based on conduct described as a felony in the following |
|
sections of the Penal Code if, except for Sections 49.07 and 49.08, |
|
the conduct was committed knowingly or intentionally: |
|
(1) Section 19.02 (murder); |
|
(2) Section 19.03 (capital murder); |
|
(3) Section 20.04 (aggravated kidnapping); |
|
(4) Section 22.02 (aggravated assault); |
|
(5) Section 22.011 (sexual assault); |
|
(6) Section 22.021 (aggravated sexual assault); |
|
(7) Section 22.04 (injury to a child, elderly |
|
individual, or disabled individual, but not if the conduct occurred |
|
while providing health care as defined by Section 74.001); |
|
(8) Section 32.21 (forgery); |
|
(9) Section 32.43 (commercial bribery); |
|
(10) Section 32.45 (misapplication of fiduciary |
|
property or property of financial institution); |
|
(11) Section 32.46 (securing execution of document by |
|
deception); |
|
(12) Section 32.47 (fraudulent destruction, removal, |
|
or concealment of writing); |
|
(13) Chapter 31 (theft) the punishment level for which |
|
is a felony of the third degree or higher; |
|
(14) Section 49.07 (intoxication assault); [or] |
|
(15) Section 49.08 (intoxication manslaughter); or |
|
(16) Section 21.02 (continuous sexual abuse of young |
|
child or children). |
|
SECTION 3.04. Section 125.0015(a), Civil Practice and |
|
Remedies Code, is amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) A person who maintains a place to which persons |
|
habitually go for the following purposes and who knowingly |
|
tolerates the activity and furthermore fails to make reasonable |
|
attempts to abate the activity maintains a common nuisance: |
|
(1) discharge of a firearm in a public place as |
|
prohibited by the Penal Code; |
|
(2) reckless discharge of a firearm as prohibited by |
|
the Penal Code; |
|
(3) engaging in organized criminal activity as a |
|
member of a combination as prohibited by the Penal Code; |
|
(4) delivery, possession, manufacture, or use of a |
|
controlled substance in violation of Chapter 481, Health and Safety |
|
Code; |
|
(5) gambling, gambling promotion, or communicating |
|
gambling information as prohibited by the Penal Code; |
|
(6) prostitution, promotion of prostitution, or |
|
aggravated promotion of prostitution as prohibited by the Penal |
|
Code; |
|
(7) compelling prostitution as prohibited by the Penal |
|
Code; |
|
(8) commercial manufacture, commercial distribution, |
|
or commercial exhibition of obscene material as prohibited by the |
|
Penal Code; |
|
(9) aggravated assault as described by Section 22.02, |
|
Penal Code; |
|
(10) sexual assault as described by Section 22.011, |
|
Penal Code; |
|
(11) aggravated sexual assault as described by Section |
|
22.021, Penal Code; |
|
(12) robbery as described by Section 29.02, Penal |
|
Code; |
|
(13) aggravated robbery as described by Section 29.03, |
|
Penal Code; |
|
(14) unlawfully carrying a weapon as described by |
|
Section 46.02, Penal Code; |
|
(15) murder as described by Section 19.02, Penal Code; |
|
[or] |
|
(16) capital murder as described by Section 19.03, |
|
Penal Code; or |
|
(17) continuous sexual abuse of young child or |
|
children as described by Section 21.02, Penal Code. |
|
SECTION 3.05. Article 7A.01(a), Code of Criminal Procedure, |
|
is amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) A person who is the victim of an offense under Section |
|
21.02, 22.011, or 22.021, Penal Code, or a prosecuting attorney |
|
acting on behalf of the person, may file an application for a |
|
protective order under this chapter without regard to the |
|
relationship between the applicant and the alleged offender. |
|
SECTION 3.06. Section 5(a), Article 11.071, Code of |
|
Criminal Procedure, is amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) If a subsequent application for a writ of habeas corpus |
|
is filed after filing an initial application, a court may not |
|
consider the merits of or grant relief based on the subsequent |
|
application unless the application contains sufficient specific |
|
facts establishing that: |
|
(1) the current claims and issues have not been and |
|
could not have been presented previously in a timely initial |
|
application or in a previously considered application filed under |
|
this article or Article 11.07 because the factual or legal basis for |
|
the claim was unavailable on the date the applicant filed the |
|
previous application; |
|
(2) by a preponderance of the evidence, but for a |
|
violation of the United States Constitution no rational juror could |
|
have found the applicant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt; or |
|
(3) by clear and convincing evidence, but for a |
|
violation of the United States Constitution no rational juror would |
|
have answered in the state's favor one or more of the special issues |
|
that were submitted to the jury in the applicant's trial under |
|
Article 37.071, [or] 37.0711, or 37.072. |
|
SECTION 3.07. Article 15.051(a), Code of Criminal |
|
Procedure, is amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) A peace officer or an attorney representing the state |
|
may not require a polygraph examination of a person who charges or |
|
seeks to charge in a complaint the commission of an offense under |
|
Section 21.02, 21.11, 22.011, 22.021, or 25.02, Penal Code. |
|
SECTION 3.08. Article 17.03(b), Code of Criminal Procedure, |
|
is amended to read as follows: |
|
(b) Only the court before whom the case is pending may |
|
release on personal bond a defendant who: |
|
(1) is charged with an offense under the following |
|
sections of the Penal Code: |
|
(A) Section 19.03 (Capital Murder); |
|
(B) Section 20.04 (Aggravated Kidnapping); |
|
(C) Section 22.021 (Aggravated Sexual Assault); |
|
(D) Section 22.03 (Deadly Assault on Law |
|
Enforcement or Corrections Officer, Member or Employee of Board of |
|
Pardons and Paroles, or Court Participant); |
|
(E) Section 22.04 (Injury to a Child, Elderly |
|
Individual, or Disabled Individual); |
|
(F) Section 29.03 (Aggravated Robbery); |
|
(G) Section 30.02 (Burglary); [or] |
|
(H) Section 71.02 (Engaging in Organized |
|
Criminal Activity); or |
|
(I) Section 21.02 (Continuous Sexual Abuse of |
|
Young Child or Children); |
|
(2) is charged with a felony under Chapter 481, Health |
|
and Safety Code, or Section 485.033, Health and Safety Code, |
|
punishable by imprisonment for a minimum term or by a maximum fine |
|
that is more than a minimum term or maximum fine for a first degree |
|
felony; or |
|
(3) does not submit to testing for the presence of a |
|
controlled substance in the defendant's body as requested by the |
|
court or magistrate under Subsection (c) of this article or submits |
|
to testing and the test shows evidence of the presence of a |
|
controlled substance in the defendant's body. |
|
SECTION 3.09. Article 17.032(a), Code of Criminal |
|
Procedure, is amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) In this article, "violent offense" means an offense |
|
under the following sections of the Penal Code: |
|
(1) Section 19.02 (murder); |
|
(2) Section 19.03 (capital murder); |
|
(3) Section 20.03 (kidnapping); |
|
(4) Section 20.04 (aggravated kidnapping); |
|
(5) Section 21.11 (indecency with a child); |
|
(6) Section 22.01(a)(1) (assault); |
|
(7) Section 22.011 (sexual assault); |
|
(8) Section 22.02 (aggravated assault); |
|
(9) Section 22.021 (aggravated sexual assault); |
|
(10) Section 22.04 (injury to a child, elderly |
|
individual, or disabled individual); [or] |
|
(11) Section 29.03 (aggravated robbery); or |
|
(12) Section 21.02 (continuous sexual abuse of young |
|
child or children). |
|
SECTION 3.10. Article 17.091, Code of Criminal Procedure, |
|
is amended to read as follows: |
|
Art. 17.091. NOTICE OF CERTAIN BAIL REDUCTIONS REQUIRED. |
|
Before a judge or magistrate reduces the amount of bail set for a |
|
defendant charged with an offense listed in Section 3g, Article |
|
42.12, or an offense described by Article 62.001(5) [62.01(5)], the |
|
judge or magistrate shall provide: |
|
(1) to the attorney representing the state, reasonable |
|
notice of the proposed bail reduction; and |
|
(2) on request of the attorney representing the state |
|
or the defendant or the defendant's counsel, an opportunity for a |
|
hearing concerning the proposed bail reduction. |
|
SECTION 3.11. Article 18.021(a), Code of Criminal |
|
Procedure, is amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) A search warrant may be issued to search for and |
|
photograph a child who is alleged to be the victim of the offenses |
|
of injury to a child as prohibited [defined] by Section 22.04, Penal |
|
Code[, as amended]; sexual assault of a child as prohibited |
|
[defined] by Section 22.011(a), Penal Code[, as amended]; [or] |
|
aggravated sexual assault of a child as prohibited [defined] by |
|
Section 22.021, Penal Code; or continuous sexual abuse of young |
|
child or children as prohibited by Section 21.02, Penal Code. |
|
SECTION 3.12. Article 21.31(a), Code of Criminal Procedure, |
|
is amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) A person who is indicted for or who waives indictment |
|
for an offense under Section 21.02, 21.11(a)(1), 22.011, or 22.021, |
|
Penal Code, shall, at the direction of the court, undergo a medical |
|
procedure or test designed to show or help show whether the person |
|
has a sexually transmitted disease or has acquired immune |
|
deficiency syndrome (AIDS) or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) |
|
infection, antibodies to HIV, or infection with any other probable |
|
causative agent of AIDS. The court may direct the person to undergo |
|
the procedure or test on its own motion or on the request of the |
|
victim of the alleged offense. If the person refuses to submit |
|
voluntarily to the procedure or test, the court shall require the |
|
person to submit to the procedure or test. The court may require a |
|
defendant previously required under this article to undergo a |
|
medical procedure or test on indictment for an offense to undergo a |
|
subsequent medical procedure or test following conviction of the |
|
offense. The person performing the procedure or test shall make the |
|
test results available to the local health authority, and the local |
|
health authority shall be required to make the notification of the |
|
test result to the victim of the alleged offense and to the |
|
defendant. |
|
SECTION 3.13. Section 3, Article 31.08, Code of Criminal |
|
Procedure, is amended to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 3. Except for the review of a death sentence under |
|
Section 2(h), Article 37.071, or under Section 2(h), Article 37.072 |
|
[37.071(h) of this code], an appeal taken in a cause returned to the |
|
original county under this article must be docketed in the |
|
appellate district in which the county of original venue is |
|
located. |
|
SECTION 3.14. Section 2(b), Article 37.07, Code of Criminal |
|
Procedure, is amended to read as follows: |
|
(b) Except as provided by [in] Article 37.071 or 37.072, if |
|
a finding of guilty is returned, it shall then be the responsibility |
|
of the judge to assess the punishment applicable to the offense; |
|
provided, however, that (1) in any criminal action where the jury |
|
may recommend community supervision and the defendant filed his |
|
sworn motion for community supervision before the trial began, and |
|
(2) in other cases where the defendant so elects in writing before |
|
the commencement of the voir dire examination of the jury panel, the |
|
punishment shall be assessed by the same jury, except as provided in |
|
Section 3(c) of this article and in Article 44.29. If a finding of |
|
guilty is returned, the defendant may, with the consent of the |
|
attorney for the state, change his election of one who assesses the |
|
punishment. |
|
SECTION 3.15. Sections 4(a) and (b), Article 37.07, Code of |
|
Criminal Procedure, are amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) In the penalty phase of the trial of a felony case in |
|
which the punishment is to be assessed by the jury rather than the |
|
court, if the offense of which the jury has found the defendant |
|
guilty is listed in Section 3g(a)(1), Article 42.12, of this code or |
|
if the judgment contains an affirmative finding under Section |
|
3g(a)(2), Article 42.12, of this code, unless the defendant has |
|
been convicted of an offense under Section 21.02, Penal Code, an |
|
offense under Section 22.021, Penal Code, that is punishable under |
|
Subsection (f) of that section, or a capital felony, the court shall |
|
charge the jury in writing as follows: |
|
"Under the law applicable in this case, the defendant, if |
|
sentenced to a term of imprisonment, may earn time off the period of |
|
incarceration imposed through the award of good conduct time. |
|
Prison authorities may award good conduct time to a prisoner who |
|
exhibits good behavior, diligence in carrying out prison work |
|
assignments, and attempts at rehabilitation. If a prisoner engages |
|
in misconduct, prison authorities may also take away all or part of |
|
any good conduct time earned by the prisoner. |
|
"It is also possible that the length of time for which the |
|
defendant will be imprisoned might be reduced by the award of |
|
parole. |
|
"Under the law applicable in this case, if the defendant is |
|
sentenced to a term of imprisonment, he will not become eligible for |
|
parole until the actual time served equals one-half of the sentence |
|
imposed or 30 years, whichever is less, without consideration of |
|
any good conduct time he may earn. If the defendant is sentenced to |
|
a term of less than four years, he must serve at least two years |
|
before he is eligible for parole. Eligibility for parole does not |
|
guarantee that parole will be granted. |
|
"It cannot accurately be predicted how the parole law and |
|
good conduct time might be applied to this defendant if he is |
|
sentenced to a term of imprisonment, because the application of |
|
these laws will depend on decisions made by prison and parole |
|
authorities. |
|
"You may consider the existence of the parole law and good |
|
conduct time. However, you are not to consider the extent to which |
|
good conduct time may be awarded to or forfeited by this particular |
|
defendant. You are not to consider the manner in which the parole |
|
law may be applied to this particular defendant." |
|
(b) In the penalty phase of the trial of a felony case in |
|
which the punishment is to be assessed by the jury rather than the |
|
court, if the offense is punishable as a felony of the first degree, |
|
if a prior conviction has been alleged for enhancement of |
|
punishment as provided by Section 12.42(b), (c)(1) or (2) [(c)], or |
|
(d), Penal Code, or if the offense is a felony not designated as a |
|
capital felony or a felony of the first, second, or third degree and |
|
the maximum term of imprisonment that may be imposed for the offense |
|
is longer than 60 years, unless the offense of which the jury has |
|
found the defendant guilty is an offense that is punishable under |
|
Section 21.02(h), Penal Code, or is listed in Section 3g(a)(1), |
|
Article 42.12, of this code or the judgment contains an affirmative |
|
finding under Section 3g(a)(2), Article 42.12, of this code, the |
|
court shall charge the jury in writing as follows: |
|
"Under the law applicable in this case, the defendant, if |
|
sentenced to a term of imprisonment, may earn time off the period of |
|
incarceration imposed through the award of good conduct time. |
|
Prison authorities may award good conduct time to a prisoner who |
|
exhibits good behavior, diligence in carrying out prison work |
|
assignments, and attempts at rehabilitation. If a prisoner engages |
|
in misconduct, prison authorities may also take away all or part of |
|
any good conduct time earned by the prisoner. |
|
"It is also possible that the length of time for which the |
|
defendant will be imprisoned might be reduced by the award of |
|
parole. |
|
"Under the law applicable in this case, if the defendant is |
|
sentenced to a term of imprisonment, he will not become eligible for |
|
parole until the actual time served plus any good conduct time |
|
earned equals one-fourth of the sentence imposed or 15 years, |
|
whichever is less. Eligibility for parole does not guarantee that |
|
parole will be granted. |
|
"It cannot accurately be predicted how the parole law and |
|
good conduct time might be applied to this defendant if he is |
|
sentenced to a term of imprisonment, because the application of |
|
these laws will depend on decisions made by prison and parole |
|
authorities. |
|
"You may consider the existence of the parole law and good |
|
conduct time. However, you are not to consider the extent to which |
|
good conduct time may be awarded to or forfeited by this particular |
|
defendant. You are not to consider the manner in which the parole |
|
law may be applied to this particular defendant." |
|
SECTION 3.16. Section 1, Article 38.071, Code of Criminal |
|
Procedure, is amended to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 1. This article applies only to a hearing or proceeding |
|
in which the court determines that a child younger than 13 years of |
|
age would be unavailable to testify in the presence of the defendant |
|
about an offense defined by any of the following sections of the |
|
Penal Code: |
|
(1) Section 19.02 (Murder); |
|
(2) Section 19.03 (Capital Murder); |
|
(3) Section 19.04 (Manslaughter); |
|
(4) Section 20.04 (Aggravated Kidnapping); |
|
(5) Section 21.11 (Indecency with a Child); |
|
(6) Section 22.011 (Sexual Assault); |
|
(7) Section 22.02 (Aggravated Assault); |
|
(8) Section 22.021 (Aggravated Sexual Assault); |
|
(9) Section 22.04(e) (Injury to a Child, Elderly |
|
Individual, or Disabled Individual); |
|
(10) Section 22.04(f) (Injury to a Child, Elderly |
|
Individual, or Disabled Individual), if the conduct is committed |
|
intentionally or knowingly; |
|
(11) Section 25.02 (Prohibited Sexual Conduct); |
|
(12) Section 29.03 (Aggravated Robbery); [or] |
|
(13) Section 43.25 (Sexual Performance by a Child); or |
|
(14) Section 21.02 (Continuous Sexual Abuse of Young |
|
Child or Children). |
|
SECTION 3.17. Article 42.017, Code of Criminal Procedure, |
|
is amended to read as follows: |
|
Art. 42.017. FINDING REGARDING AGE-BASED OFFENSE. In the |
|
trial of an offense under Section 21.02, 21.11, 22.011, 22.021, or |
|
43.25, Penal Code, the judge shall make an affirmative finding of |
|
fact and enter the affirmative finding in the judgment in the case |
|
if the judge determines that: |
|
(1) at the time of the offense, the defendant was |
|
younger than 19 years of age and the victim was at least 13 years of |
|
age; and |
|
(2) the conviction is based solely on the ages of the |
|
defendant and the victim or intended victim at the time of the |
|
offense. |
|
SECTION 3.18. Article 44.251, Code of Criminal Procedure, |
|
is amended by amending Subsections (a) and (c) and adding |
|
Subsection (d) to read as follows: |
|
(a) The court of criminal appeals shall reform a sentence of |
|
death to a sentence of confinement in the [institutional division
|
|
of the] Texas Department of Criminal Justice for life without |
|
parole if the court finds that there is legally insufficient |
|
evidence to support an affirmative answer to an issue submitted to |
|
the jury under Section 2(b), Article 37.071, or Section 2(b), |
|
Article 37.072. |
|
(c) If the court of criminal appeals finds reversible error |
|
that affects the punishment stage of the trial only, as described by |
|
Subsection (b) of this article, and the prosecuting attorney does |
|
not file a motion for reformation of sentence in the period |
|
described by that subsection, the defendant shall receive a new |
|
sentencing trial in the manner required by Article 44.29(c) or (d), |
|
as applicable [of this code]. |
|
(d) The court of criminal appeals shall reform a sentence of |
|
death imposed under Section 12.42(c)(3), Penal Code, to a sentence |
|
of imprisonment in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for |
|
life without parole if the United States Supreme Court: |
|
(1) finds that the imposition of the death penalty |
|
under Section 12.42(c)(3), Penal Code, violates the United States |
|
Constitution; and |
|
(2) issues an order that is not inconsistent with this |
|
article. |
|
SECTION 3.19. Article 44.29, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
|
amended by adding Subsection (d) to read as follows: |
|
(d) If any court sets aside or invalidates the sentence of a |
|
defendant convicted of an offense punishable as a capital felony |
|
under Section 12.42(c)(3), Penal Code, and sentenced to death on |
|
the basis of any error affecting punishment only, the court shall |
|
not set the conviction aside but rather shall commence a new |
|
punishment hearing under Article 37.072, as if a finding of guilt |
|
had been returned. The court shall empanel a jury for the |
|
sentencing stage of the trial in the same manner as a jury is to be |
|
empaneled by the court in other trials before the court for the |
|
offense of which the defendant was convicted. At the new punishment |
|
hearing, the court shall permit both the state and the defendant to |
|
introduce evidence as permitted by Article 37.072. |
|
SECTION 3.20. Article 56.01, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
|
amended by adding Subdivision (2-a) to read as follows: |
|
(2-a) "Sexual assault" includes an offense under |
|
Section 21.02, Penal Code. |
|
SECTION 3.21. Article 56.02(a), Code of Criminal Procedure, |
|
is amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) A victim, guardian of a victim, or close relative of a |
|
deceased victim is entitled to the following rights within the |
|
criminal justice system: |
|
(1) the right to receive from law enforcement agencies |
|
adequate protection from harm and threats of harm arising from |
|
cooperation with prosecution efforts; |
|
(2) the right to have the magistrate take the safety of |
|
the victim or his family into consideration as an element in fixing |
|
the amount of bail for the accused; |
|
(3) the right, if requested, to be informed: |
|
(A) by the attorney representing the state of |
|
relevant court proceedings, including appellate proceedings, and |
|
to be informed if those proceedings have been canceled or |
|
rescheduled prior to the event; and |
|
(B) by an appellate court of decisions of the |
|
court, after the decisions are entered but before the decisions are |
|
made public; |
|
(4) the right to be informed, when requested, by a |
|
peace officer concerning the defendant's right to bail and the |
|
procedures in criminal investigations and by the district |
|
attorney's office concerning the general procedures in the criminal |
|
justice system, including general procedures in guilty plea |
|
negotiations and arrangements, restitution, and the appeals and |
|
parole process; |
|
(5) the right to provide pertinent information to a |
|
probation department conducting a presentencing investigation |
|
concerning the impact of the offense on the victim and his family by |
|
testimony, written statement, or any other manner prior to any |
|
sentencing of the offender; |
|
(6) the right to receive information regarding |
|
compensation to victims of crime as provided by Subchapter B, |
|
including information related to the costs that may be compensated |
|
under that subchapter and the amount of compensation, eligibility |
|
for compensation, and procedures for application for compensation |
|
under that subchapter, the payment for a medical examination under |
|
Article 56.06 for a victim of a sexual assault, and when requested, |
|
to referral to available social service agencies that may offer |
|
additional assistance; |
|
(7) the right to be informed, upon request, of parole |
|
procedures, to participate in the parole process, to be notified, |
|
if requested, of parole proceedings concerning a defendant in the |
|
victim's case, to provide to the Board of Pardons and Paroles for |
|
inclusion in the defendant's file information to be considered by |
|
the board prior to the parole of any defendant convicted of any |
|
crime subject to this subchapter, and to be notified, if requested, |
|
of the defendant's release; |
|
(8) the right to be provided with a waiting area, |
|
separate or secure from other witnesses, including the offender and |
|
relatives of the offender, before testifying in any proceeding |
|
concerning the offender; if a separate waiting area is not |
|
available, other safeguards should be taken to minimize the |
|
victim's contact with the offender and the offender's relatives and |
|
witnesses, before and during court proceedings; |
|
(9) the right to prompt return of any property of the |
|
victim that is held by a law enforcement agency or the attorney for |
|
the state as evidence when the property is no longer required for |
|
that purpose; |
|
(10) the right to have the attorney for the state |
|
notify the employer of the victim, if requested, of the necessity of |
|
the victim's cooperation and testimony in a proceeding that may |
|
necessitate the absence of the victim from work for good cause; |
|
(11) the right to counseling, on request, regarding |
|
acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and human |
|
immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and testing for acquired |
|
immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), human immunodeficiency virus |
|
(HIV) infection, antibodies to HIV, or infection with any other |
|
probable causative agent of AIDS, if the offense is an offense under |
|
Section 21.02, 21.11(a)(1), 22.011, or 22.021, Penal Code; |
|
(12) the right to request victim-offender mediation |
|
coordinated by the victim services division of the Texas Department |
|
of Criminal Justice; |
|
(13) the right to be informed of the uses of a victim |
|
impact statement and the statement's purpose in the criminal |
|
justice system, to complete the victim impact statement, and to |
|
have the victim impact statement considered: |
|
(A) by the attorney representing the state and |
|
the judge before sentencing or before a plea bargain agreement is |
|
accepted; and |
|
(B) by the Board of Pardons and Paroles before an |
|
inmate is released on parole; and |
|
(14) except as provided by Article 56.06(a), for a |
|
victim of a sexual assault, the right to a forensic medical |
|
examination if the sexual assault is reported to a law enforcement |
|
agency within 96 hours of the assault. |
|
SECTION 3.22. (a) Article 62.001(5), Code of Criminal |
|
Procedure, as renumbered from former Subdivision (5), Article |
|
62.01, Code of Criminal Procedure, and amended by Chapter 1008, |
|
Acts of the 79th Legislature, Regular Session, 2005, is reenacted |
|
and amended to conform to an amendment to former Subdivision (5), |
|
Article 62.01, by Chapter 1273, Acts of the 79th Legislature, |
|
Regular Session, 2005, and is further amended to read as follows: |
|
(5) "Reportable conviction or adjudication" means a |
|
conviction or adjudication, including an adjudication of |
|
delinquent conduct or a deferred adjudication, that, regardless of |
|
the pendency of an appeal, is a conviction for or an adjudication |
|
for or based on: |
|
(A) a violation of Section 21.02 (Continuous |
|
sexual abuse of young child or children), 21.11 (Indecency with a |
|
child), 22.011 (Sexual assault), 22.021 (Aggravated sexual |
|
assault), or 25.02 (Prohibited sexual conduct), Penal Code; |
|
(B) a violation of Section 43.05 (Compelling |
|
prostitution), 43.25 (Sexual performance by a child), or 43.26 |
|
(Possession or promotion of child pornography), Penal Code; |
|
(C) a violation of Section 20.04(a)(4) |
|
(Aggravated kidnapping), Penal Code, if the actor committed the |
|
offense or engaged in the conduct with intent to violate or abuse |
|
the victim sexually; |
|
(D) a violation of Section 30.02 (Burglary), |
|
Penal Code, if the offense or conduct is punishable under |
|
Subsection (d) of that section and the actor committed the offense |
|
or engaged in the conduct with intent to commit a felony listed in |
|
Paragraph (A) or (C); |
|
(E) a violation of Section 20.02 (Unlawful |
|
restraint), 20.03 (Kidnapping), or 20.04 (Aggravated kidnapping), |
|
Penal Code, if, as applicable: |
|
(i) the judgment in the case contains an |
|
affirmative finding under Article 42.015; or |
|
(ii) the order in the hearing or the papers |
|
in the case contain an affirmative finding that the victim or |
|
intended victim was younger than 17 years of age; |
|
(F) the second violation of Section 21.08 |
|
(Indecent exposure), Penal Code, but not if the second violation |
|
results in a deferred adjudication; |
|
(G) an attempt, conspiracy, or solicitation, as |
|
defined by Chapter 15, Penal Code, to commit an offense or engage in |
|
conduct listed in Paragraph (A), (B), (C), (D), or (E); |
|
(H) a violation of the laws of another state, |
|
federal law, the laws of a foreign country, or the Uniform Code of |
|
Military Justice for or based on the violation of an offense |
|
containing elements that are substantially similar to the elements |
|
of an offense listed under Paragraph (A), (B), (C), (D), (E), [or] |
|
(G), or (J), but not if the violation results in a deferred |
|
adjudication; [or] |
|
(I) the second violation of the laws of another |
|
state, federal law, the laws of a foreign country, or the Uniform |
|
Code of Military Justice for or based on the violation of an offense |
|
containing elements that are substantially similar to the elements |
|
of the offense of indecent exposure, but not if the second violation |
|
results in a deferred adjudication; or |
|
(J) a violation of Section 33.021 (Online |
|
solicitation of a minor), Penal Code. |
|
(b) Section 2, Chapter 1273, Acts of the 79th Legislature, |
|
Regular Session, 2005, is repealed. |
|
SECTION 3.23. Article 62.001(6), Code of Criminal |
|
Procedure, is amended to read as follows: |
|
(6) "Sexually violent offense" means any of the |
|
following offenses committed by a person 17 years of age or older: |
|
(A) an offense under Section 21.02 (Continuous |
|
sexual abuse of young child or children), 21.11(a)(1) (Indecency |
|
with a child), 22.011 (Sexual assault), or 22.021 (Aggravated |
|
sexual assault), Penal Code; |
|
(B) an offense under Section 43.25 (Sexual |
|
performance by a child), Penal Code; |
|
(C) an offense under Section 20.04(a)(4) |
|
(Aggravated kidnapping), Penal Code, if the defendant committed the |
|
offense with intent to violate or abuse the victim sexually; |
|
(D) an offense under Section 30.02 (Burglary), |
|
Penal Code, if the offense is punishable under Subsection (d) of |
|
that section and the defendant committed the offense with intent to |
|
commit a felony listed in Paragraph (A) or (C) of Subdivision (5); |
|
or |
|
(E) an offense under the laws of another state, |
|
federal law, the laws of a foreign country, or the Uniform Code of |
|
Military Justice if the offense contains elements that are |
|
substantially similar to the elements of an offense listed under |
|
Paragraph (A), (B), (C), or (D). |
|
SECTION 3.24. Article 102.0186(a), Code of Criminal |
|
Procedure, is amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) A person convicted of an offense under Section 21.02, |
|
21.11, 22.011(a)(2), 22.021(a)(1)(B), 43.25, 43.251, or 43.26, |
|
Penal Code, shall pay $100 on conviction of the offense. |
|
SECTION 3.25. Section 25.0341(a), Education Code, as added |
|
by Chapter 997, Acts of the 79th Legislature, Regular Session, |
|
2005, is amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) This section applies only to: |
|
(1) a student: |
|
(A) who has been convicted of continuous sexual |
|
abuse of young child or children under Section 21.02, Penal Code, or |
|
convicted of or placed on deferred adjudication for the offense of |
|
sexual assault under Section 22.011, Penal Code, or aggravated |
|
sexual assault under Section 22.021, Penal Code, committed against |
|
another student who, at the time the offense occurred, was assigned |
|
to the same campus as the student convicted or placed on deferred |
|
adjudication; |
|
(B) who has been adjudicated under Section 54.03, |
|
Family Code, as having engaged in conduct described by Paragraph |
|
(A); |
|
(C) whose prosecution under Section 53.03, |
|
Family Code, for engaging in conduct described by Paragraph (A) has |
|
been deferred; or |
|
(D) who has been placed on probation under |
|
Section 54.04(d)(1), Family Code, for engaging in conduct described |
|
by Paragraph (A); and |
|
(2) a student who is the victim of conduct described by |
|
Subdivision (1)(A). |
|
SECTION 3.26. Section 37.007(a), Education Code, is amended |
|
to read as follows: |
|
(a) A student shall be expelled from a school if the |
|
student, on school property or while attending a school-sponsored |
|
or school-related activity on or off of school property: |
|
(1) uses, exhibits, or possesses: |
|
(A) a firearm as defined by Section 46.01(3), |
|
Penal Code; |
|
(B) an illegal knife as defined by Section |
|
46.01(6), Penal Code, or by local policy; |
|
(C) a club as defined by Section 46.01(1), Penal |
|
Code; or |
|
(D) a weapon listed as a prohibited weapon under |
|
Section 46.05, Penal Code; |
|
(2) engages in conduct that contains the elements of |
|
the offense of: |
|
(A) aggravated assault under Section 22.02, |
|
Penal Code, sexual assault under Section 22.011, Penal Code, or |
|
aggravated sexual assault under Section 22.021, Penal Code; |
|
(B) arson under Section 28.02, Penal Code; |
|
(C) murder under Section 19.02, Penal Code, |
|
capital murder under Section 19.03, Penal Code, or criminal |
|
attempt, under Section 15.01, Penal Code, to commit murder or |
|
capital murder; |
|
(D) indecency with a child under Section 21.11, |
|
Penal Code; |
|
(E) aggravated kidnapping under Section 20.04, |
|
Penal Code; |
|
(F) aggravated robbery under Section 29.03, |
|
Penal Code; |
|
(G) manslaughter under Section 19.04, Penal |
|
Code; [or] |
|
(H) criminally negligent homicide under Section |
|
19.05, Penal Code; or |
|
(I) continuous sexual abuse of young child or |
|
children under Section 21.02, Penal Code; or |
|
(3) engages in conduct specified by Section |
|
37.006(a)(2)(C) or (D), if the conduct is punishable as a felony. |
|
SECTION 3.27. Section 33.009, Family Code, is amended to |
|
read as follows: |
|
Sec. 33.009. OTHER REPORTS OF SEXUAL ABUSE OF A MINOR. A |
|
court or the guardian ad litem or attorney ad litem for the minor |
|
shall report conduct reasonably believed to violate Section 21.02, |
|
22.011, 22.021, or 25.02, Penal Code, based on information obtained |
|
during a confidential court proceeding held under this chapter to: |
|
(1) any local or state law enforcement agency; |
|
(2) the Department of Family and Protective [and
|
|
Regulatory] Services, if the alleged conduct involves a person |
|
responsible for the care, custody, or welfare of the child; |
|
(3) the state agency that operates, licenses, |
|
certifies, or registers the facility in which the alleged conduct |
|
occurred, if the alleged conduct occurred in a facility operated, |
|
licensed, certified, or registered by a state agency; or |
|
(4) an appropriate agency designated by the court. |
|
SECTION 3.28. Section 33.010, Family Code, is amended to |
|
read as follows: |
|
Sec. 33.010. CONFIDENTIALITY. Notwithstanding any other |
|
law, information obtained by the Department of Family and |
|
Protective [and Regulatory] Services or another entity under |
|
Section 33.008 or 33.009 is confidential except to the extent |
|
necessary to prove a violation of Section 21.02, 22.011, 22.021, or |
|
25.02, Penal Code. |
|
SECTION 3.29. Section 156.104, Family Code, is amended to |
|
read as follows: |
|
Sec. 156.104. MODIFICATION OF ORDER ON CONVICTION FOR CHILD |
|
ABUSE; PENALTY. (a) Except as provided by Section 156.1045, the |
|
conviction of a conservator for an offense under Section 21.02, |
|
Penal Code, or the conviction of a conservator[,] or an order |
|
deferring adjudication with regard to the conservator, for an |
|
offense involving the abuse of a child under Section 21.11, 22.011, |
|
or 22.021, Penal Code, is a material and substantial change of |
|
circumstances sufficient to justify a temporary order and |
|
modification of an existing court order or portion of a decree that |
|
provides for the appointment of a conservator or that sets the terms |
|
and conditions of conservatorship or for the possession of or |
|
access to a child. |
|
(b) A person commits an offense if the person files a suit to |
|
modify an order or portion of a decree based on the grounds |
|
permitted under Subsection (a) and the person knows that the person |
|
against whom the motion is filed has not been convicted of an |
|
offense, or received deferred adjudication for an offense, under |
|
Section 21.02, 21.11, 22.011, or 22.021, Penal Code. An offense |
|
under this subsection is a Class B misdemeanor. |
|
SECTION 3.30. Section 161.001, Family Code, is amended to |
|
read as follows: |
|
Sec. 161.001. INVOLUNTARY TERMINATION OF PARENT-CHILD |
|
RELATIONSHIP. The court may order termination of the parent-child |
|
relationship if the court finds by clear and convincing evidence: |
|
(1) that the parent has: |
|
(A) voluntarily left the child alone or in the |
|
possession of another not the parent and expressed an intent not to |
|
return; |
|
(B) voluntarily left the child alone or in the |
|
possession of another not the parent without expressing an intent |
|
to return, without providing for the adequate support of the child, |
|
and remained away for a period of at least three months; |
|
(C) voluntarily left the child alone or in the |
|
possession of another without providing adequate support of the |
|
child and remained away for a period of at least six months; |
|
(D) knowingly placed or knowingly allowed the |
|
child to remain in conditions or surroundings which endanger the |
|
physical or emotional well-being of the child; |
|
(E) engaged in conduct or knowingly placed the |
|
child with persons who engaged in conduct which endangers the |
|
physical or emotional well-being of the child; |
|
(F) failed to support the child in accordance |
|
with the parent's ability during a period of one year ending within |
|
six months of the date of the filing of the petition; |
|
(G) abandoned the child without identifying the |
|
child or furnishing means of identification, and the child's |
|
identity cannot be ascertained by the exercise of reasonable |
|
diligence; |
|
(H) voluntarily, and with knowledge of the |
|
pregnancy, abandoned the mother of the child beginning at a time |
|
during her pregnancy with the child and continuing through the |
|
birth, failed to provide adequate support or medical care for the |
|
mother during the period of abandonment before the birth of the |
|
child, and remained apart from the child or failed to support the |
|
child since the birth; |
|
(I) contumaciously refused to submit to a |
|
reasonable and lawful order of a court under Subchapter D, Chapter |
|
261; |
|
(J) been the major cause of: |
|
(i) the failure of the child to be enrolled |
|
in school as required by the Education Code; or |
|
(ii) the child's absence from the child's |
|
home without the consent of the parents or guardian for a |
|
substantial length of time or without the intent to return; |
|
(K) executed before or after the suit is filed an |
|
unrevoked or irrevocable affidavit of relinquishment of parental |
|
rights as provided by this chapter; |
|
(L) been convicted or has been placed on |
|
community supervision, including deferred adjudication community |
|
supervision, for being criminally responsible for the death or |
|
serious injury of a child under the following sections of the Penal |
|
Code or adjudicated under Title 3 for conduct that caused the death |
|
or serious injury of a child and that would constitute a violation |
|
of one of the following Penal Code sections: |
|
(i) Section 19.02 (murder); |
|
(ii) Section 19.03 (capital murder); |
|
(iii) Section 19.04 (manslaughter); |
|
(iv) Section 21.11 (indecency with a |
|
child); |
|
(v) Section 22.01 (assault); |
|
(vi) Section 22.011 (sexual assault); |
|
(vii) Section 22.02 (aggravated assault); |
|
(viii) Section 22.021 (aggravated sexual |
|
assault); |
|
(ix) Section 22.04 (injury to a child, |
|
elderly individual, or disabled individual); |
|
(x) Section 22.041 (abandoning or |
|
endangering child); |
|
(xi) Section 25.02 (prohibited sexual |
|
conduct); |
|
(xii) Section 43.25 (sexual performance by |
|
a child); [and] |
|
(xiii) Section 43.26 (possession or |
|
promotion of child pornography); and |
|
(xiv) Section 21.02 (continuous sexual |
|
abuse of young child or children); |
|
(M) had his or her parent-child relationship |
|
terminated with respect to another child based on a finding that the |
|
parent's conduct was in violation of Paragraph (D) or (E) or |
|
substantially equivalent provisions of the law of another state; |
|
(N) constructively abandoned the child who has |
|
been in the permanent or temporary managing conservatorship of the |
|
Department of Family and Protective Services or an authorized |
|
agency for not less than six months, and: |
|
(i) the department or authorized agency has |
|
made reasonable efforts to return the child to the parent; |
|
(ii) the parent has not regularly visited |
|
or maintained significant contact with the child; and |
|
(iii) the parent has demonstrated an |
|
inability to provide the child with a safe environment; |
|
(O) failed to comply with the provisions of a |
|
court order that specifically established the actions necessary for |
|
the parent to obtain the return of the child who has been in the |
|
permanent or temporary managing conservatorship of the Department |
|
of Family and Protective Services for not less than nine months as a |
|
result of the child's removal from the parent under Chapter 262 for |
|
the abuse or neglect of the child; |
|
(P) used a controlled substance, as defined by |
|
Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code, in a manner that endangered the |
|
health or safety of the child, and: |
|
(i) failed to complete a court-ordered |
|
substance abuse treatment program; or |
|
(ii) after completion of a court-ordered |
|
substance abuse treatment program, continued to abuse a controlled |
|
substance; |
|
(Q) knowingly engaged in criminal conduct that |
|
has resulted in the parent's: |
|
(i) conviction of an offense; and |
|
(ii) confinement or imprisonment and |
|
inability to care for the child for not less than two years from the |
|
date of filing the petition; |
|
(R) been the cause of the child being born |
|
addicted to alcohol or a controlled substance, other than a |
|
controlled substance legally obtained by prescription, as defined |
|
by Section 261.001; |
|
(S) voluntarily delivered the child to a |
|
designated emergency infant care provider under Section 262.302 |
|
without expressing an intent to return for the child; or |
|
(T) been convicted of the murder of the other |
|
parent of the child under Section 19.02 or 19.03, Penal Code, or |
|
under a law of another state, federal law, the law of a foreign |
|
country, or the Uniform Code of Military Justice that contains |
|
elements that are substantially similar to the elements of an |
|
offense under Section 19.02 or 19.03, Penal Code; and |
|
(2) that termination is in the best interest of the |
|
child. |
|
SECTION 3.31. Section 161.007, Family Code, is amended to |
|
read as follows: |
|
Sec. 161.007. TERMINATION WHEN PREGNANCY RESULTS FROM |
|
CRIMINAL ACT. The court may order the termination of the |
|
parent-child relationship of a parent and a child if the court finds |
|
that: |
|
(1) the parent has been convicted of an offense |
|
committed under Section 21.02, 22.011, 22.021, or 25.02, Penal |
|
Code; |
|
(2) as a direct result of the commission of the offense |
|
by the parent, the victim of the offense became pregnant with the |
|
parent's child; and |
|
(3) termination is in the best interest of the child. |
|
SECTION 3.32. Section 261.001(1), Family Code, is amended |
|
to read as follows: |
|
(1) "Abuse" includes the following acts or omissions |
|
by a person: |
|
(A) mental or emotional injury to a child that |
|
results in an observable and material impairment in the child's |
|
growth, development, or psychological functioning; |
|
(B) causing or permitting the child to be in a |
|
situation in which the child sustains a mental or emotional injury |
|
that results in an observable and material impairment in the |
|
child's growth, development, or psychological functioning; |
|
(C) physical injury that results in substantial |
|
harm to the child, or the genuine threat of substantial harm from |
|
physical injury to the child, including an injury that is at |
|
variance with the history or explanation given and excluding an |
|
accident or reasonable discipline by a parent, guardian, or |
|
managing or possessory conservator that does not expose the child |
|
to a substantial risk of harm; |
|
(D) failure to make a reasonable effort to |
|
prevent an action by another person that results in physical injury |
|
that results in substantial harm to the child; |
|
(E) sexual conduct harmful to a child's mental, |
|
emotional, or physical welfare, including conduct that constitutes |
|
the offense of continuous sexual abuse of young child or children |
|
under Section 21.02, Penal Code, indecency with a child under |
|
Section 21.11, Penal Code, sexual assault under Section 22.011, |
|
Penal Code, or aggravated sexual assault under Section 22.021, |
|
Penal Code; |
|
(F) failure to make a reasonable effort to |
|
prevent sexual conduct harmful to a child; |
|
(G) compelling or encouraging the child to engage |
|
in sexual conduct as defined by Section 43.01, Penal Code; |
|
(H) causing, permitting, encouraging, engaging |
|
in, or allowing the photographing, filming, or depicting of the |
|
child if the person knew or should have known that the resulting |
|
photograph, film, or depiction of the child is obscene as defined by |
|
Section 43.21, Penal Code, or pornographic; |
|
(I) the current use by a person of a controlled |
|
substance as defined by Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code, in a |
|
manner or to the extent that the use results in physical, mental, or |
|
emotional injury to a child; |
|
(J) causing, expressly permitting, or |
|
encouraging a child to use a controlled substance as defined by |
|
Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code; or |
|
(K) causing, permitting, encouraging, engaging |
|
in, or allowing a sexual performance by a child as defined by |
|
Section 43.25, Penal Code. |
|
SECTION 3.33. Section 262.2015(b), Family Code, is amended |
|
to read as follows: |
|
(b) The court may find under Subsection (a) that a parent |
|
has subjected the child to aggravated circumstances if: |
|
(1) the parent abandoned the child without |
|
identification or a means for identifying the child; |
|
(2) the child is a victim of serious bodily injury or |
|
sexual abuse inflicted by the parent or by another person with the |
|
parent's consent; |
|
(3) the parent has engaged in conduct against the |
|
child that would constitute an offense under the following |
|
provisions of the Penal Code: |
|
(A) Section 19.02 (murder); |
|
(B) Section 19.03 (capital murder); |
|
(C) Section 19.04 (manslaughter); |
|
(D) Section 21.11 (indecency with a child); |
|
(E) Section 22.011 (sexual assault); |
|
(F) Section 22.02 (aggravated assault); |
|
(G) Section 22.021 (aggravated sexual assault); |
|
(H) Section 22.04 (injury to a child, elderly |
|
individual, or disabled individual); |
|
(I) Section 22.041 (abandoning or endangering |
|
child); |
|
(J) Section 25.02 (prohibited sexual conduct); |
|
(K) Section 43.25 (sexual performance by a |
|
child); [or] |
|
(L) Section 43.26 (possession or promotion of |
|
child pornography); or |
|
(M) Section 21.02 (continuous sexual abuse of |
|
young child or children); |
|
(4) the parent voluntarily left the child alone or in |
|
the possession of another person not the parent of the child for at |
|
least six months without expressing an intent to return and without |
|
providing adequate support for the child; |
|
(5) the parent's parental rights with regard to |
|
another child have been involuntarily terminated based on a finding |
|
that the parent's conduct violated Section 161.001(1)(D) or (E) or |
|
a substantially equivalent provision of another state's law; |
|
(6) the parent has been convicted for: |
|
(A) the murder of another child of the parent and |
|
the offense would have been an offense under 18 U.S.C. Section |
|
1111(a) if the offense had occurred in the special maritime or |
|
territorial jurisdiction of the United States; |
|
(B) the voluntary manslaughter of another child |
|
of the parent and the offense would have been an offense under 18 |
|
U.S.C. Section 1112(a) if the offense had occurred in the special |
|
maritime or territorial jurisdiction of the United States; |
|
(C) aiding or abetting, attempting, conspiring, |
|
or soliciting an offense under Subdivision (A) or (B); or |
|
(D) the felony assault of the child or another |
|
child of the parent that resulted in serious bodily injury to the |
|
child or another child of the parent; or |
|
(7) the parent's parental rights with regard to two |
|
other children have been involuntarily terminated. |
|
SECTION 3.34. Section 411.1471(a), Government Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) This section applies to a defendant who is: |
|
(1) indicted or waives indictment for a felony |
|
prohibited or punishable under any of the following Penal Code |
|
sections: |
|
(A) Section 20.04(a)(4); |
|
(B) Section 21.11; |
|
(C) Section 22.011; |
|
(D) Section 22.021; |
|
(E) Section 25.02; |
|
(F) Section 30.02(d); |
|
(G) Section 43.05; |
|
(H) Section 43.25; [or] |
|
(I) Section 43.26; or |
|
(J) Section 21.02; |
|
(2) arrested for a felony described by Subdivision (1) |
|
after having been previously convicted of or placed on deferred |
|
adjudication for an offense described by Subdivision (1) or an |
|
offense punishable under Section 30.02(c)(2), Penal Code; or |
|
(3) convicted of an offense under Section 21.07 or |
|
21.08, Penal Code. |
|
SECTION 3.35. Section 420.003(4), Government Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(4) "Sexual assault" means any act or attempted act as |
|
described by Section 21.02, 21.11, 22.011, 22.021, or 25.02, Penal |
|
Code. |
|
SECTION 3.36. Section 499.027(b), Government Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(b) An inmate is not eligible under this subchapter to be |
|
considered for release to intensive supervision parole if: |
|
(1) the inmate is awaiting transfer to the |
|
institutional division, or serving a sentence, for an offense for |
|
which the judgment contains an affirmative finding under Section |
|
3g(a)(2), Article 42.12, Code of Criminal Procedure; |
|
(2) the inmate is awaiting transfer to the |
|
institutional division, or serving a sentence, for an offense |
|
listed in one of the following sections of the Penal Code: |
|
(A) Section 19.02 (murder); |
|
(B) Section 19.03 (capital murder); |
|
(C) Section 19.04 (manslaughter); |
|
(D) Section 20.03 (kidnapping); |
|
(E) Section 20.04 (aggravated kidnapping); |
|
(F) Section 21.11 (indecency with a child); |
|
(G) Section 22.011 (sexual assault); |
|
(H) Section 22.02 (aggravated assault); |
|
(I) Section 22.021 (aggravated sexual assault); |
|
(J) Section 22.04 (injury to a child or an |
|
elderly individual); |
|
(K) Section 25.02 (prohibited sexual conduct); |
|
(L) Section 25.08 (sale or purchase of a child); |
|
(M) Section 28.02 (arson); |
|
(N) Section 29.02 (robbery); |
|
(O) Section 29.03 (aggravated robbery); |
|
(P) Section 30.02 (burglary), if the offense is |
|
punished as a first-degree felony under that section; |
|
(Q) Section 43.04 (aggravated promotion of |
|
prostitution); |
|
(R) Section 43.05 (compelling prostitution); |
|
(S) Section 43.24 (sale, distribution, or |
|
display of harmful material to minor); |
|
(T) Section 43.25 (sexual performance by a |
|
child); |
|
(U) Section 46.10 (deadly weapon in penal |
|
institution); |
|
(V) Section 15.01 (criminal attempt), if the |
|
offense attempted is listed in this subsection; |
|
(W) Section 15.02 (criminal conspiracy), if the |
|
offense that is the subject of the conspiracy is listed in this |
|
subsection; [or] |
|
(X) Section 15.03 (criminal solicitation), if |
|
the offense solicited is listed in this subsection; or |
|
(Y) Section 21.02 (continuous sexual abuse of |
|
young child or children); or |
|
(3) the inmate is awaiting transfer to the |
|
institutional division, or serving a sentence, for an offense under |
|
Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code, punishable by a minimum term of |
|
imprisonment or a maximum fine that is greater than the minimum term |
|
of imprisonment or the maximum fine for a first degree felony. |
|
SECTION 3.37. Section 501.061(a), Government Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) A physician employed or retained by the department may |
|
perform an orchiectomy on an inmate only if: |
|
(1) the inmate has been convicted of an offense under |
|
Section 21.02, 21.11, 22.011(a)(2), or 22.021(a)(2)(B), Penal |
|
Code, and has previously been convicted under one or more of those |
|
sections; |
|
(2) the inmate is 21 years of age or older; |
|
(3) the inmate requests the procedure in writing; |
|
(4) the inmate signs a statement admitting the inmate |
|
committed the offense described by Subsection (a)(1) for which the |
|
inmate has been convicted; |
|
(5) a psychiatrist and a psychologist who are |
|
appointed by the department and have experience in the treatment of |
|
sex offenders: |
|
(A) evaluate the inmate and determine that the |
|
inmate is a suitable candidate for the procedure; and |
|
(B) counsel the inmate before the inmate |
|
undergoes the procedure; |
|
(6) the physician obtains the inmate's informed, |
|
written consent to undergo the procedure; |
|
(7) the inmate has not previously requested that the |
|
department perform the procedure and subsequently withdrawn the |
|
request; and |
|
(8) the inmate consults with a monitor as provided by |
|
Subsection (f). |
|
SECTION 3.38. Section 508.046, Government Code, is amended |
|
to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 508.046. EXTRAORDINARY VOTE REQUIRED. To release on |
|
parole an inmate who was convicted of an offense under Section |
|
21.02, 21.11(a)(1), or 22.021, Penal Code, or who is required under |
|
Section 508.145(c) to serve 35 calendar years before becoming |
|
eligible for release on parole, all members of the board must vote |
|
on the release on parole of the inmate, and at least two-thirds of |
|
the members must vote in favor of the release on parole. A member of |
|
the board may not vote on the release unless the member first |
|
receives a copy of a written report from the department on the |
|
probability that the inmate would commit an offense after being |
|
released on parole. |
|
SECTION 3.39. Section 508.117(g), Government Code, is |
|
amended by adding Subdivision (2-a) to read as follows: |
|
(2-a) "Sexual assault" includes an offense under |
|
Section 21.02, Penal Code. |
|
SECTION 3.40. Section 508.151(a), Government Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) For the purpose of diverting inmates to halfway houses |
|
under Section 508.118, a parole panel, after reviewing all |
|
available pertinent information, may designate a presumptive |
|
parole date for an inmate who: |
|
(1) has never been convicted of an offense listed |
|
under Section 3g(a)(1), Article 42.12, Code of Criminal Procedure, |
|
or an offense under Section 21.02, Penal Code; and |
|
(2) has never had a conviction with a judgment that |
|
contains an affirmative finding under Section 3g(a)(2), Article |
|
42.12, Code of Criminal Procedure. |
|
SECTION 3.41. Section 508.187(a), Government Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) This section applies only to a releasee serving a |
|
sentence for an offense under: |
|
(1) Section 43.25 or 43.26, Penal Code; |
|
(2) Section 21.02, 21.11, 22.011, 22.021, or 25.02, |
|
Penal Code; |
|
(3) Section 20.04(a)(4), Penal Code, if the releasee |
|
committed the offense with the intent to violate or abuse the victim |
|
sexually; or |
|
(4) Section 30.02, Penal Code, punishable under |
|
Subsection (d) of that section, if the releasee committed the |
|
offense with the intent to commit a felony listed in Subdivision (2) |
|
or (3). |
|
SECTION 3.42. Section 508.189(a), Government Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) A parole panel shall require as a condition of parole or |
|
mandatory supervision that a releasee convicted of an offense under |
|
Section 21.02, 21.08, 21.11, 22.011, 22.021, 25.02, 43.25, or |
|
43.26, Penal Code, pay to the division a parole supervision fee of |
|
$5 each month during the period of parole supervision. |
|
SECTION 3.43. Section 242.126(c), Health and Safety Code, |
|
is amended to read as follows: |
|
(c) The agency shall begin the investigation: |
|
(1) within 24 hours of receipt of the report or other |
|
allegation, if the report of abuse or neglect or other complaint |
|
alleges that: |
|
(A) a resident's health or safety is in imminent |
|
danger; |
|
(B) a resident has recently died because of |
|
conduct alleged in the report of abuse or neglect or other |
|
complaint; |
|
(C) a resident has been hospitalized or been |
|
treated in an emergency room because of conduct alleged in the |
|
report of abuse or neglect or other complaint; |
|
(D) a resident has been a victim of any act or |
|
attempted act described by Section 21.02, 21.11, 22.011, or 22.021, |
|
Penal Code; or |
|
(E) a resident has suffered bodily injury, as |
|
that term is defined by Section 1.07, Penal Code, because of conduct |
|
alleged in the report of abuse or neglect or other complaint; or |
|
(2) before the end of the next working day after the |
|
date of receipt of the report of abuse or neglect or other |
|
complaint, if the report or complaint alleges the existence of |
|
circumstances that could result in abuse or neglect and that could |
|
place a resident's health or safety in imminent danger. |
|
SECTION 3.44. Section 250.006(a), Health and Safety Code, |
|
is amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) A person for whom the facility is entitled to obtain |
|
criminal history record information may not be employed in a |
|
facility if the person has been convicted of an offense listed in |
|
this subsection: |
|
(1) an offense under Chapter 19, Penal Code (criminal |
|
homicide); |
|
(2) an offense under Chapter 20, Penal Code |
|
(kidnapping and unlawful restraint); |
|
(3) an offense under Section 21.02, Penal Code |
|
(continuous sexual abuse of young child or children), or Section |
|
21.11, Penal Code (indecency with a child); |
|
(4) an offense under Section 22.011, Penal Code |
|
(sexual assault); |
|
(5) an offense under Section 22.02, Penal Code |
|
(aggravated assault); |
|
(6) an offense under Section 22.04, Penal Code (injury |
|
to a child, elderly individual, or disabled individual); |
|
(7) an offense under Section 22.041, Penal Code |
|
(abandoning or endangering child); |
|
(8) an offense under Section 22.08, Penal Code (aiding |
|
suicide); |
|
(9) an offense under Section 25.031, Penal Code |
|
(agreement to abduct from custody); |
|
(10) an offense under Section 25.08, Penal Code (sale |
|
or purchase of a child); |
|
(11) an offense under Section 28.02, Penal Code |
|
(arson); |
|
(12) an offense under Section 29.02, Penal Code |
|
(robbery); |
|
(13) an offense under Section 29.03, Penal Code |
|
(aggravated robbery); or |
|
(14) a conviction under the laws of another state, |
|
federal law, or the Uniform Code of Military Justice for an offense |
|
containing elements that are substantially similar to the elements |
|
of an offense listed under Subdivisions (1)-(13). |
|
SECTION 3.45. Section 841.002(8), Health and Safety Code, |
|
is amended to read as follows: |
|
(8) "Sexually violent offense" means: |
|
(A) an offense under Section 21.02, 21.11(a)(1), |
|
22.011, or 22.021, Penal Code; |
|
(B) an offense under Section 20.04(a)(4), Penal |
|
Code, if the person committed the offense with the intent to violate |
|
or abuse the victim sexually; |
|
(C) an offense under Section 30.02, Penal Code, |
|
if the offense is punishable under Subsection (d) of that section |
|
and the person committed the offense with the intent to commit an |
|
offense listed in Paragraph (A) or (B); |
|
(D) an offense under Section 19.02 or 19.03, |
|
Penal Code, that, during the guilt or innocence phase or the |
|
punishment phase for the offense, during the adjudication or |
|
disposition of delinquent conduct constituting the offense, or |
|
subsequently during a civil commitment proceeding under Subchapter |
|
D, is determined beyond a reasonable doubt to have been based on |
|
sexually motivated conduct; |
|
(E) an attempt, conspiracy, or solicitation, as |
|
defined by Chapter 15, Penal Code, to commit an offense listed in |
|
Paragraph (A), (B), (C), or (D); |
|
(F) an offense under prior state law that |
|
contains elements substantially similar to the elements of an |
|
offense listed in Paragraph (A), (B), (C), (D), or (E); or |
|
(G) an offense under the law of another state, |
|
federal law, or the Uniform Code of Military Justice that contains |
|
elements substantially similar to the elements of an offense listed |
|
in Paragraph (A), (B), (C), (D), or (E). |
|
SECTION 3.46. Section 301.4535(a), Occupations Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) The board shall suspend a nurse's license or refuse to |
|
issue a license to an applicant on proof that the nurse or applicant |
|
has been initially convicted of: |
|
(1) murder under Section 19.02, Penal Code, capital |
|
murder under Section 19.03, Penal Code, or manslaughter under |
|
Section 19.04, Penal Code; |
|
(2) kidnapping or unlawful restraint under Chapter 20, |
|
Penal Code, and the offense was punished as a felony or state jail |
|
felony; |
|
(3) sexual assault under Section 22.011, Penal Code; |
|
(4) aggravated sexual assault under Section 22.021, |
|
Penal Code; |
|
(5) continuous sexual abuse of young child or children |
|
under Section 21.02, Penal Code, or indecency with a child under |
|
Section 21.11, Penal Code; |
|
(6) aggravated assault under Section 22.02, Penal |
|
Code; |
|
(7) intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly injuring |
|
a child, elderly individual, or disabled individual under Section |
|
22.04, Penal Code; |
|
(8) intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly |
|
abandoning or endangering a child under Section 22.041, Penal Code; |
|
(9) aiding suicide under Section 22.08, Penal Code, |
|
and the offense was punished as a state jail felony; |
|
(10) an offense under Section 25.07, Penal Code, |
|
punished as a felony; |
|
(11) an offense under Section 25.071, Penal Code, |
|
punished as a felony; |
|
(12) an agreement to abduct a child from custody under |
|
Section 25.031, Penal Code; |
|
(13) the sale or purchase of a child under Section |
|
25.08, Penal Code; |
|
(14) robbery under Section 29.02, Penal Code; |
|
(15) aggravated robbery under Section 29.03, Penal |
|
Code; |
|
(16) an offense for which a defendant is required to |
|
register as a sex offender under Chapter 62, Code of Criminal |
|
Procedure; or |
|
(17) an offense under the law of another state, |
|
federal law, or the Uniform Code of Military Justice that contains |
|
elements that are substantially similar to the elements of an |
|
offense listed in this subsection. |
|
SECTION 3.47. Section 3.03(b), Penal Code, is amended to |
|
read as follows: |
|
(b) If the accused is found guilty of more than one offense |
|
arising out of the same criminal episode, the sentences may run |
|
concurrently or consecutively if each sentence is for a conviction |
|
of: |
|
(1) an offense: |
|
(A) under Section 49.07 or 49.08, regardless of |
|
whether the accused is convicted of violations of the same section |
|
more than once or is convicted of violations of both sections; or |
|
(B) for which a plea agreement was reached in a |
|
case in which the accused was charged with more than one offense |
|
listed in Paragraph (A), regardless of whether the accused is |
|
charged with violations of the same section more than once or is |
|
charged with violations of both sections; |
|
(2) an offense: |
|
(A) under Section 21.02, 21.11, 22.011, 22.021, |
|
25.02, or 43.25 committed against a victim younger than 17 years of |
|
age at the time of the commission of the offense regardless of |
|
whether the accused is convicted of violations of the same section |
|
more than once or is convicted of violations of more than one |
|
section; or |
|
(B) for which a plea agreement was reached in a |
|
case in which the accused was charged with more than one offense |
|
listed in Paragraph (A) committed against a victim younger than 17 |
|
years of age at the time of the commission of the offense regardless |
|
of whether the accused is charged with violations of the same |
|
section more than once or is charged with violations of more than |
|
one section; or |
|
(3) an offense: |
|
(A) under Section 21.15 or 43.26, regardless of |
|
whether the accused is convicted of violations of the same section |
|
more than once or is convicted of violations of both sections; or |
|
(B) for which a plea agreement was reached in a |
|
case in which the accused was charged with more than one offense |
|
listed in Paragraph (A), regardless of whether the accused is |
|
charged with violations of the same section more than once or is |
|
charged with violations of both sections. |
|
SECTION 3.48. Section 12.35(c), Penal Code, is amended to |
|
read as follows: |
|
(c) An individual adjudged guilty of a state jail felony |
|
shall be punished for a third degree felony if it is shown on the |
|
trial of the offense that: |
|
(1) a deadly weapon as defined by Section 1.07 was used |
|
or exhibited during the commission of the offense or during |
|
immediate flight following the commission of the offense, and that |
|
the individual used or exhibited the deadly weapon or was a party to |
|
the offense and knew that a deadly weapon would be used or |
|
exhibited; or |
|
(2) the individual has previously been finally |
|
convicted of any felony: |
|
(A) under Section 21.02 or listed in Section |
|
3g(a)(1), Article 42.12, Code of Criminal Procedure; or |
|
(B) for which the judgment contains an |
|
affirmative finding under Section 3g(a)(2), Article 42.12, Code of |
|
Criminal Procedure. |
|
SECTION 3.49. Section 15.031(b), Penal Code, is amended to |
|
read as follows: |
|
(b) A person commits an offense if, with intent that an |
|
offense under Section 21.02, 21.11, 22.011, 22.021, or 43.25 be |
|
committed, the person by any means requests, commands, or attempts |
|
to induce a minor or another whom the person believes to be a minor |
|
to engage in specific conduct that, under the circumstances |
|
surrounding the actor's conduct as the actor believes them to be, |
|
would constitute an offense under one of those sections or would |
|
make the minor or other believed by the person to be a minor a party |
|
to the commission of an offense under one of those sections. |
|
SECTION 3.50. Section 38.17(a), Penal Code, is amended to |
|
read as follows: |
|
(a) A person, other than a person who has a relationship |
|
with a child described by Section 22.04(b), commits an offense if: |
|
(1) the actor observes the commission or attempted |
|
commission of an offense prohibited by Section 21.02 or |
|
22.021(a)(2)(B) under circumstances in which a reasonable person |
|
would believe that an offense of a sexual or assaultive nature was |
|
being committed or was about to be committed against the child; |
|
(2) the actor fails to assist the child or immediately |
|
report the commission of the offense to a peace officer or law |
|
enforcement agency; and |
|
(3) the actor could assist the child or immediately |
|
report the commission of the offense without placing the actor in |
|
danger of suffering serious bodily injury or death. |
|
ARTICLE 4. TRANSITION; EFFECTIVE DATE |
|
SECTION 4.01. (a) Except as provided by Subsections (b) and |
|
(c) of this section, the change in law made by this Act applies only |
|
to an offense committed on or after September 1, 2007. An offense |
|
committed before September 1, 2007, is covered by the law in effect |
|
when the offense was committed, and the former law is continued in |
|
effect for that purpose. For the purposes of this section, an |
|
offense was committed before September 1, 2007, if any element of |
|
the offense occurred before that date. |
|
(b) The change in law made by this Act to Chapter 841, Health |
|
and Safety Code, applies only to an individual who on or after |
|
September 1, 2007, is serving a sentence in the Texas Department of |
|
Criminal Justice or is committed to the Department of State Health |
|
Services for an offense committed before, on, or after the |
|
effective date of this Act. |
|
(c) The change in law made by this Act to Article 12.01, Code |
|
of Criminal Procedure, does not apply to an offense if the |
|
prosecution of that offense becomes barred by limitation before the |
|
effective date of this Act. The prosecution of that offense remains |
|
barred as if this Act had not taken effect. |
|
SECTION 4.02. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |
|
|
|
____________________________________________________________ |
|
President of the SenateSpeaker of the House |
|
I certify that H.B. No. 8 was passed by the House on March 6, |
|
2007, by the following vote: Yeas 119, Nays 25, 1 present, not |
|
voting; that the House refused to concur in Senate amendments to |
|
H.B. No. 8 on May 1, 2007, and requested the appointment of a |
|
conference committee to consider the differences between the two |
|
houses; and that the House adopted the conference committee report |
|
on H.B. No. 8 on May 18, 2007, by the following vote: Yeas 122, |
|
Nays 17, 2 present, not voting. |
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
Chief Clerk of the House |
|
I certify that H.B. No. 8 was passed by the Senate, with |
|
amendments, on April 24, 2007, by the following vote: Yeas 30, |
|
Nays 1; at the request of the House, the Senate appointed a |
|
conference committee to consider the differences between the two |
|
houses; and that the Senate adopted the conference committee report |
|
on H.B. No. 8 on May 17, 2007, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays |
|
1. |
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
Secretary of the Senate |
|
APPROVED: __________________ |
|
APPROVED: __________________ |
|
Date |
|
|
|
|
|
__________________ |
|
Governor |