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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a sign required to be posted in the restrooms of |
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sexually oriented businesses; creating a criminal offense. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 102, Business & Commerce Code, is |
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amended by adding Subchapter C to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER C. NOTICE REQUIREMENTS ON PREMISES OF SEXUALLY ORIENTED |
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BUSINESSES |
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Sec. 102.101. POSTING OF CERTAIN SIGN REQUIRED. (a) A |
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sexually oriented business shall post by the sink area in each |
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restroom on the premises one sign that directs a victim of human |
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trafficking to contact the National Human Trafficking Resource |
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Center. Except as provided by Subsection (c), the sign must be 11 |
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inches by 17 inches in size. |
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(b) The attorney general by rule shall prescribe the design, |
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content, and manner of display of the sign required by this section. |
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The sign must: |
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(1) be in both English and Spanish; and |
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(2) include the telephone number and Internet website |
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of the National Human Trafficking Resource Center. |
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(c) The attorney general by rule may require the sign to: |
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(1) be in an additional language other than English or |
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Spanish; |
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(2) be larger than 11 inches by 17 inches in size if |
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the attorney general determines that a larger sign is appropriate; |
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and |
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(3) include other information the attorney general |
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considers necessary and appropriate. |
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Sec. 102.102. CRIMINAL PENALTY. (a) A person commits an |
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offense if the person: |
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(1) is an owner or operator of a sexually oriented |
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business; and |
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(2) fails to post the sign required by Section 102.101 |
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in compliance with that section and rules adopted under that |
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section. |
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(b) An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor. |
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If it is shown on the trial of an offense under this section that the |
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person has previously been convicted of an offense under this |
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section, the offense is a Class B misdemeanor. |
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SECTION 2. (a) The attorney general shall adopt rules to |
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implement Section 102.101, Business & Commerce Code, as added by |
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this Act, not later than September 1, 2018. |
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(b) Each sexually oriented business shall post the sign |
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required by Section 102.101, Business & Commerce Code, as added by |
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this Act, not later than March 1, 2019. |
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SECTION 3. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of |
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this section, this Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |
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(b) Section 102.102, Business & Commerce Code, as added by |
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this Act, takes effect March 1, 2019. |
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