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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to allowing a person suspected of committing or attempting |
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to commit theft to complete an education program offered by a |
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merchant. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 124.001, Civil Practice and Remedies |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 124.001. DETENTION. (a) A person who reasonably |
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believes that another has stolen or is attempting to steal property |
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is privileged to detain that person in a reasonable manner and for a |
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reasonable time to investigate ownership of the property. |
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(b) A person who is in the business of selling goods or |
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services as a merchant is not precluded from: |
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(1) offering a person who is suspected of stealing or |
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attempting to steal property from the merchant an opportunity to |
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complete the merchant's education program instead of reporting the |
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suspected offense to a law enforcement agency; |
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(2) informing the other person of the civil and |
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criminal remedies available to the merchant and the state; and |
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(3) reducing or waiving a fee for the education |
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program based on the other person's ability to pay. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |