|
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
relating to the prosecution and punishment of certain offenses |
|
involving trafficking of persons. |
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
ARTICLE 1. OFFENSES INVOLVING TRAFFICKING OF PERSONS; ELIGIBILITY |
|
FOR COMMUNITY SUPERVISION, PAROLE, OR MANDATORY SUPERVISION |
|
SECTION 1.01. Chapter 20A, Penal Code, is amended by adding |
|
Section 20A.04 to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 20A.04. CONTINUOUS TRAFFICKING OF PERSONS. (a) A |
|
person commits an offense if, during a period that is 30 or more |
|
days in duration, the person engages two or more times in conduct |
|
that constitutes an offense under Section 20A.02. |
|
(b) If a jury is the trier of fact, members of the jury are |
|
not required to agree unanimously on which specific conduct engaged |
|
in by the defendant constituted an offense under Section 20A.02 or |
|
on which exact date the defendant engaged in that conduct. The jury |
|
must agree unanimously that the defendant, during a period that is |
|
30 or more days in duration, engaged in conduct that constituted an |
|
offense under Section 20A.02. |
|
(c) If the victim of an offense under Subsection (a) is the |
|
same victim as a victim of an offense under Section 20A.02, a |
|
defendant may not be convicted of the offense under Section 20A.02 |
|
in the same criminal action as the offense under Subsection (a), |
|
unless the offense under Section 20A.02: |
|
(1) is charged in the alternative; |
|
(2) occurred outside the period in which the offense |
|
alleged under Subsection (a) was committed; or |
|
(3) is considered by the trier of fact to be a lesser |
|
included offense of the offense alleged under Subsection (a). |
|
(d) A defendant may not be charged with more than one count |
|
under Subsection (a) if all of the conduct that constitutes an |
|
offense under Section 20A.02 is alleged to have been committed |
|
against the same victim. |
|
(e) 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 1.02. Section 3g(a), Article 42.12, Code of |
|
Criminal Procedure, is amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) The provisions of Section 3 of this article do not |
|
apply: |
|
(1) to a defendant adjudged guilty of an offense |
|
under: |
|
(A) Section 19.02, Penal Code (Murder); |
|
(B) Section 19.03, Penal Code (Capital murder); |
|
(C) Section 21.11(a)(1), Penal Code (Indecency |
|
with a child); |
|
(D) Section 20.04, Penal Code (Aggravated |
|
kidnapping); |
|
(E) Section 22.021, Penal Code (Aggravated |
|
sexual assault); |
|
(F) Section 29.03, Penal Code (Aggravated |
|
robbery); |
|
(G) Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code, for |
|
which punishment is increased under: |
|
(i) Section 481.140, Health and Safety |
|
Code; or |
|
(ii) Section 481.134(c), (d), (e), or (f), |
|
Health and Safety Code, if it is shown that the defendant has been |
|
previously convicted of an offense for which punishment was |
|
increased under any of those subsections; |
|
(H) Section 22.011, Penal Code (Sexual assault); |
|
(I) Section 22.04(a)(1), Penal Code (Injury to a |
|
child, elderly individual, or disabled individual), if the offense |
|
is punishable as a felony of the first degree and the victim of the |
|
offense is a child; |
|
(J) Section 43.25, Penal Code (Sexual |
|
performance by a child); [or] |
|
(K) Section 15.03, Penal Code, if the offense is |
|
punishable as a felony of the first degree; or |
|
(L) Section 20A.02, Penal Code (Trafficking of |
|
persons); or |
|
(2) to a defendant when it is shown that a deadly |
|
weapon as defined in Section 1.07, Penal Code, was used or exhibited |
|
during the commission of a felony offense or during immediate |
|
flight therefrom, and that the defendant used or exhibited the |
|
deadly weapon or was a party to the offense and knew that a deadly |
|
weapon would be used or exhibited. On an affirmative finding under |
|
this subdivision, the trial court shall enter the finding in the |
|
judgment of the court. On an affirmative finding that the deadly |
|
weapon was a firearm, the court shall enter that finding in its |
|
judgment. |
|
SECTION 1.03. Section 4(d), Article 42.12, Code of Criminal |
|
Procedure, is amended to read as follows: |
|
(d) A defendant is not eligible for community supervision |
|
under this section if the defendant: |
|
(1) is sentenced to a term of imprisonment that |
|
exceeds 10 years; |
|
(2) is convicted of a state jail felony for which |
|
suspension of the imposition of the sentence occurs automatically |
|
under Section 15(a); |
|
(3) does not file a sworn motion under Subsection (e) |
|
of this section or for whom the jury does not enter in the verdict a |
|
finding that the information contained in the motion is true; |
|
(4) is convicted of an offense for which punishment is |
|
increased under Section 481.134(c), (d), (e), or (f), Health and |
|
Safety Code, if it is shown that the defendant has been previously |
|
convicted of an offense for which punishment was increased under |
|
any one of those subsections; |
|
(5) is convicted of an offense listed in Section |
|
3g(a)(1)(C), (E), or (H), if the victim of the offense was younger |
|
than 14 years of age at the time the offense was committed; |
|
(6) is convicted of an offense listed in Section |
|
3g(a)(1)(D), if the victim of the offense was younger than 14 years |
|
of age at the time the offense was committed and the actor committed |
|
the offense with the intent to violate or abuse the victim sexually; |
|
(7) is convicted of an offense listed in Section |
|
3g(a)(1)(J) or (L); or |
|
(8) is adjudged guilty of an offense under Section |
|
19.02, Penal Code. |
|
SECTION 1.04. Section 5(d), Article 42.12, Code of Criminal |
|
Procedure, is amended to read as follows: |
|
(d) In all other cases the judge may grant deferred |
|
adjudication unless: |
|
(1) the defendant is charged with an offense: |
|
(A) under Sections 49.04-49.08, Penal Code; or |
|
(B) for which punishment may be increased under |
|
Section 481.134(c), (d), (e), or (f), Health and Safety Code, if it |
|
is shown that the defendant has been previously convicted of an |
|
offense for which punishment was increased under any one of those |
|
subsections; |
|
(2) the defendant: |
|
(A) is charged with an offense under Section |
|
21.11, 22.011, or 22.021, Penal Code, regardless of the age of the |
|
victim, or a felony described by Section 13B(b) of this article; and |
|
(B) has previously been placed on community |
|
supervision for any offense under Paragraph (A) of this |
|
subdivision; or |
|
(3) the defendant is charged with an offense under: |
|
(A) Section 20A.02, 20A.04, or 21.02, Penal Code; |
|
or |
|
(B) Section 22.021, Penal Code, that is |
|
punishable under Subsection (f) of that section or under Section |
|
12.42(c)(3), Penal Code. |
|
SECTION 1.05. Section 508.145(a), Government Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) An inmate is not eligible for release on parole if the |
|
inmate is: |
|
(1) under sentence of death; |
|
(2) [,] serving a sentence of life imprisonment |
|
without parole; |
|
(3) [,] serving a sentence for an offense under |
|
Section 20A.04 or 21.02, Penal Code; [,] or |
|
(4) serving a sentence for an offense under Section |
|
22.021, Penal Code, that is punishable under Subsection (f) of that |
|
section [is not eligible for release on parole]. |
|
SECTION 1.06. Section 508.149(a), Government Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) An inmate may not be released to mandatory supervision |
|
if the inmate is serving a sentence for or has been previously |
|
convicted of: |
|
(1) an offense for which the judgment contains an |
|
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 under Section 21.11, Penal Code; |
|
(6) a 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; |
|
(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; |
|
(16) an offense under Section 21.02, Penal Code; [or] |
|
(17) a first degree felony under Section 15.03, Penal |
|
Code; or |
|
(18) an offense under Section 20A.02 or 20A.04, Penal |
|
Code. |
|
ARTICLE 2. ADDITIONAL CIVIL AND CRIMINAL CONSEQUENCES OF |
|
TRAFFICKING |
|
SECTION 2.01. 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); |
|
(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); |
|
(O) Section 20A.02 (trafficking of persons); or |
|
(P) Section 20A.04 (continuous trafficking of |
|
persons). |
|
SECTION 2.02. 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; |
|
(16) capital murder as described by Section 19.03, |
|
Penal Code; |
|
(17) continuous sexual abuse of young child or |
|
children as described by Section 21.02, Penal Code; [or] |
|
(18) massage therapy or other massage services in |
|
violation of Chapter 455, Occupations Code; |
|
(19) trafficking of persons as described by Section |
|
20A.02, Penal Code; or |
|
(20) continuous trafficking of persons as described by |
|
Section 20A.04, Penal Code. |
|
SECTION 2.03. 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); |
|
(H) Section 71.02 (Engaging in Organized |
|
Criminal Activity); [or] |
|
(I) Section 21.02 (Continuous Sexual Abuse of |
|
Young Child or Children); |
|
(J) Section 20A.02 (Trafficking of Persons); or |
|
(K) Section 20A.04 (Continuous Trafficking of |
|
Persons); |
|
(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 2.04. 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); |
|
(11) Section 29.03 (aggravated robbery); [or] |
|
(12) Section 21.02 (continuous sexual abuse of young |
|
child or children); |
|
(13) Section 20A.02 (trafficking of persons); or |
|
(14) Section 20A.04 (continuous trafficking of |
|
persons). |
|
SECTION 2.05. 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), or an |
|
offense under Section 20A.04, Penal Code, 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 2.06. 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); |
|
(13) Section 43.25 (Sexual Performance by a Child); |
|
[or] |
|
(14) Section 21.02 (Continuous Sexual Abuse of Young |
|
Child or Children); |
|
(15) Section 20A.02 (Trafficking of Persons); or |
|
(16) Section 20A.04 (Continuous Trafficking of |
|
Persons). |
|
SECTION 2.07. 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; |
|
(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; |
|
(iv) Section 25.06, Penal Code; [or] |
|
(v) Section 43.25, Penal Code; or |
|
(vi) Section 20A.02 or 20A.04, 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; |
|
(7) actions in which the claimant has been diagnosed |
|
with malignant mesothelioma, other malignant asbestos-related |
|
cancer, malignant silica-related cancer, or acute silicosis; and |
|
(8) appeals brought under Section 42.01 or 42.015, Tax |
|
Code, of orders of appraisal review boards of appraisal districts |
|
established for counties with a population of less than 175,000. |
|
SECTION 2.08. 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; |
|
(I) Section 43.26; [or] |
|
(J) Section 21.02; |
|
(K) Section 20A.02; or |
|
(L) Section 20A.04; |
|
(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 2.09. 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 20A.04 or 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 2.10. Section 12.42(c)(2), Penal Code, is amended |
|
to read as follows: |
|
(2) Notwithstanding Subdivision (1), a defendant |
|
shall be punished by imprisonment in the Texas Department of |
|
Criminal Justice for life if: |
|
(A) the defendant is convicted of an offense: |
|
(i) under Section 20A.04, 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, 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 20A.04, 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). |
|
ARTICLE 3. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS |
|
SECTION 3.01. 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 20A.04 or 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), 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 under Section 20A.04, |
|
Penal Code, or 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 3.02. 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; |
|
(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); |
|
(Z) Section 20A.02 (trafficking of persons); or |
|
(AA) Section 20A.04 (continuous trafficking of |
|
persons); 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 3.03. 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 20A.04 or 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. |
|
ARTICLE 4. TRANSITION; EFFECTIVE DATE |
|
SECTION 4.01. The change in law made by this Act applies |
|
only to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this |
|
Act. An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is |
|
governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed, |
|
and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For |
|
purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the |
|
effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred |
|
before that date. |
|
SECTION 4.02. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |