| TO: | Honorable Abel Herrero, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence |
| FROM: | Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | HB1011 by King, Susan (Relating to the punishment for the offense of online solicitation of a minor.), As Introduced |
The bill would amend the Penal Code to enhance the punishment for online solicitation of a minor involving sexual conduct. Under current law this offense is punishable as a second degree felony. Under the provisions of the bill if, after soliciting the minor, the offender traveled or attempted to travel any distance with the intent to meet the minor, this offense would be punished as a second degree felony, but the minimum term of imprisonment would be increased from two to five years.
The bill increases the punishment for the offense of online solicitation of a minor involving sexual conduct. Increasing the punishment of any criminal offense is expected to increase demands on state and county correctional agency resources due to individuals serving longer terms of community supervision, state correctional institution confinement, and/or parole. However, in the case of the bill, it is assumed that the number of offenders supervised or incarcerated under this statute would not significantly impact state correctional agencies' workload and programs.
| Source Agencies: |
| LBB Staff: | UP, ESi, GG, JPo
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