81R7753 HLT-D
 
  By: Gallego H.B. No. 4381
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the creation of the offense of directing the activities
  of a criminal street gang.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 71, Penal Code, is amended by adding
  Section 71.023 to read as follows:
         Sec. 71.023.  DIRECTING ACTIVITIES OF A CRIMINAL STREET
  GANG. (a) A person commits an offense if the person knowingly
  initiates, organizes, plans, finances, directs, manages, or
  supervises a criminal street gang or members of a criminal street
  gang with the intent to benefit, to promote, or to further the
  interests of the criminal street gang or to increase the person's
  standing, position, or status in the criminal street gang.
         (b)  An offense under this section is a felony of the first
  degree.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.