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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 voyeurism; providing a penalty. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 21, Penal Code, is amended by adding |
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Section 21.16 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 21.16. VOYEURISM. (a) A person commits an offense if, |
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with the intent to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of the actor |
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or to degrade or abuse any person, the actor observes another person |
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without the other person's consent while the other person is in a |
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dwelling, structure, or conveyance in which the other person has a |
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reasonable expectation of privacy. |
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(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c) or (d), an offense |
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under this section is a Class C misdemeanor. |
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(c) An offense under this section is a Class B misdemeanor |
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if it is shown on the trial of the offense that the actor has |
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previously been convicted two or more times of an offense under this |
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section. |
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(d) An offense under this section is a state jail felony if |
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the victim was a child younger than 14 years of age at the time of |
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the offense. |
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(e) If conduct that constitutes an offense under this |
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section also constitutes an offense under any other law, the actor |
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may be prosecuted under this section, the other law, or both. |
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(f) In this section, "conveyance" includes any motor |
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vehicle, ship, vessel, railroad vehicle or car, trailer, aircraft, |
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or sleeping car. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |