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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to creating the offense of contributing to the delinquency |
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of a child. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 22, Penal Code, is amended by adding |
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Section 22.042 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 22.042. CONTRIBUTING TO DELINQUENCY OF A CHILD. (a) A |
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person commits an offense if the person is 17 years of age or older |
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and intentionally or knowingly causes or encourages a child to: |
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(1) engage in specific conduct that, under the |
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circumstances surrounding the actor's conduct, would cause the |
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child to be present during the commission of a felony; or |
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(2) enter or remain in a place where: |
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(A) a controlled substance, a controlled |
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substance analogue, drug paraphernalia, or marihuana, as defined by |
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Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code, is used, possessed, |
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manufactured, or distributed; or |
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(B) prostitution is practiced. |
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(b) In this section: |
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(1) "Child" means any person younger than 17 years of |
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age. |
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(2) "Place" means: |
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(A) the grounds of a park, lot, or parcel of land; |
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or |
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(B) a building or a portion of a building, |
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including a distinct residential or lodging unit, but not including |
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a residential or lodging structure that does not have a living area |
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in common. |
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(c) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor. |
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(d) If conduct constituting an offense under this section |
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also constitutes an offense under another section of this code, the |
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actor may be prosecuted under either section or under both |
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sections. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |