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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to human trafficking signs at abortion facilities and |
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offenses associated with human trafficking and coerced abortion; |
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increasing criminal penalties. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 245, Health and Safety Code, is amended |
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by adding Section 245.025 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 245.025. HUMAN TRAFFICKING SIGNS REQUIRED. (a) An |
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abortion facility shall display a sign in accordance with this |
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section in each patient admission area, waiting room, restroom, and |
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patient consulting room. The sign must state: |
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WARNING: Obtaining forced labor or services is a crime under |
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Texas law. If you or someone you know is a victim of such a crime, |
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you are encouraged to call the national human trafficking hotline |
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at 1-888-373-7888. You may remain anonymous. |
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(b) A sign required under this section must be in English |
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and Spanish. If an abortion facility is located in a political |
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subdivision required to provide election materials in a language |
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other than English or Spanish under Section 272.011, Election Code, |
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the sign must also be in that language. |
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(c) A sign required under this section must be at least |
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8-1/2 by 11 inches in size and displayed in a conspicuous manner |
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clearly visible to the public and employees of an abortion |
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facility. The notice must cover at least four-fifths of the sign. |
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(d) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules as |
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necessary to implement and enforce this section. |
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SECTION 2. Section 20A.02(b), Penal Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) Except as otherwise provided by this subsection, an |
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offense under this section is a felony of the second degree. An |
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offense under this section is a felony of the first degree if: |
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(1) the applicable conduct constitutes an offense |
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under Subsection (a)(5), (6), (7), or (8), regardless of whether |
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the actor knows the age of the child at the time the actor commits |
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the offense; [or] |
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(2) the commission of the offense results in the death |
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of the person who is trafficked; or |
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(3) the commission of the offense results in the death |
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of an unborn child of the person who is trafficked in violation of |
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Chapter 19. |
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SECTION 3. Section 22.01, Penal Code, is amended by adding |
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Subsection (c-1) to read as follows: |
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(c-1) Notwithstanding Subsections (b), (b-1), and (c), an |
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offense under Subsection (a)(1) or (2) is a felony of the second |
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degree if the actor intentionally or knowingly used force or the |
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threat of force to compel a woman to receive an abortion. |
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SECTION 4. (a) Not later than December 1, 2017, the |
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executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission |
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shall adopt the rules necessary to implement Section 245.025, |
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Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act. |
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(b) An abortion facility is not required to comply with |
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Section 245.025, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act, |
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before January 1, 2018. |
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SECTION 5. Sections 20A.02 and 22.01, Penal Code, as |
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amended by this Act, apply only to an offense committed on or after |
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the effective date of this Act. An offense committed before the |
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effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the |
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date the offense was committed, and that law is continued in effect |
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for that purpose. For purposes of this section, an offense was |
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committed before the effective date of this Act if any element of |
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the offense was committed before that date. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |