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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of a commission to review certain penal |
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laws of this state and to make certain recommendations regarding |
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those laws, to criminal offenses previously compiled in statutes |
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outside the Penal Code, to repealing certain of those offenses, and |
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to conforming punishments for certain of those offenses to the |
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penalty structure provided in the Penal Code; increasing the |
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punishment for the criminal offenses of sedition, sabotage, and |
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capital sabotage; imposing a civil penalty. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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ARTICLE 1. PURPOSE |
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SECTION 1.01. PURPOSE. The purpose of this Act is to |
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implement the recommendations of the commission created by Section |
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29, Chapter 1251 (H.B. 1396), Acts of the 84th Legislature, Regular |
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Session, 2015, and to authorize additional review of the penal laws |
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described by Section 2.01(a) of this Act. |
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ARTICLE 2. COMMISSION TO STUDY CERTAIN PENAL LAWS |
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SECTION 2.01. COMMISSION TO STUDY CERTAIN PENAL LAWS. |
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(a) A commission is created to study and review all penal laws of |
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this state other than criminal offenses: |
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(1) under the Penal Code; |
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(2) under Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code; or |
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(3) related to the operation of a motor vehicle. |
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(b) The commission shall: |
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(1) evaluate all laws described by Subsection (a) of |
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this section; |
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(2) make recommendations to the legislature regarding |
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the repeal or amendment of laws that are identified as being |
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unnecessary, unclear, duplicative, overly broad, or otherwise |
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insufficient to serve the intended purpose of the law, including |
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the laws identified by the commission created by Section 29, |
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Chapter 1251 (H.B. 1396), Acts of the 84th Legislature, Regular |
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Session, 2015, as requiring additional review; and |
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(3) evaluate the recommendations made by the |
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commission created by Section 29, Chapter 1251 (H.B. 1396), Acts of |
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the 84th Legislature, Regular Session, 2015. |
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(c) The commission is composed of nine members appointed as |
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follows: |
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(1) two members appointed by the governor; |
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(2) two members appointed by the lieutenant governor; |
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(3) two members appointed by the speaker of the house |
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of representatives; |
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(4) two members appointed by the chief justice of the |
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Supreme Court of Texas; and |
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(5) one member appointed by the presiding judge of the |
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Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. |
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(d) The officials making appointments to the commission |
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under Subsection (c) of this section shall ensure that the |
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membership of the commission includes representatives of all areas |
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of the criminal justice system, including prosecutors, defense |
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attorneys, judges, legal scholars, and relevant business |
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interests. |
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(e) The governor shall designate one member of the |
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commission to serve as the presiding officer of the commission. |
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(f) A member of the commission is not entitled to |
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compensation or reimbursement of expenses. |
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(g) The commission shall meet at the call of the presiding |
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officer. |
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(h) Not later than November 1, 2020, the commission shall |
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report the commission's findings and recommendations to the |
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governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of |
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representatives, the Supreme Court of Texas, the Texas Court of |
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Criminal Appeals, and the standing committees of the house of |
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representatives and the senate with primary jurisdiction over |
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criminal justice. The commission shall include in its |
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recommendations any specific statutes that the commission |
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recommends repealing or amending. |
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SECTION 2.02. APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS. Not later than the |
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60th day after the effective date of this Act, the governor, the |
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lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, |
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the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Texas, and the presiding |
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judge of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals shall appoint the |
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members of the commission created under this article. |
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SECTION 2.03. ABOLITION OF COMMISSION. The commission is |
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abolished and this article expires December 31, 2020. |
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ARTICLE 3. MISCELLANEOUS AMENDMENTS RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES |
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SECTION 3.01. Section 17.46(b), Business & Commerce Code, |
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as amended by Chapters 324 (S.B. 1488), 858 (H.B. 2552), and 967 |
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(S.B. 2065), Acts of the 85th Legislature, Regular Session, 2017, |
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is reenacted and amended to read as follows: |
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(b) Except as provided in Subsection (d) of this section, |
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the term "false, misleading, or deceptive acts or practices" |
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includes, but is not limited to, the following acts: |
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(1) passing off goods or services as those of another; |
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(2) causing confusion or misunderstanding as to the |
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source, sponsorship, approval, or certification of goods or |
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services; |
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(3) causing confusion or misunderstanding as to |
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affiliation, connection, or association with, or certification by, |
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another; |
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(4) using deceptive representations or designations |
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of geographic origin in connection with goods or services; |
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(5) representing that goods or services have |
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sponsorship, approval, characteristics, ingredients, uses, |
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benefits, or quantities which they do not have or that a person has |
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a sponsorship, approval, status, affiliation, or connection which |
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the person does not; |
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(6) representing that goods are original or new if |
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they are deteriorated, reconditioned, reclaimed, used, or |
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secondhand; |
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(7) representing that goods or services are of a |
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particular standard, quality, or grade, or that goods are of a |
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particular style or model, if they are of another; |
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(8) disparaging the goods, services, or business of |
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another by false or misleading representation of facts; |
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(9) advertising goods or services with intent not to |
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sell them as advertised; |
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(10) advertising goods or services with intent not to |
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supply a reasonable expectable public demand, unless the |
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advertisements disclosed a limitation of quantity; |
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(11) making false or misleading statements of fact |
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concerning the reasons for, existence of, or amount of price |
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reductions; |
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(12) representing that an agreement confers or |
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involves rights, remedies, or obligations which it does not have or |
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involve, or which are prohibited by law; |
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(13) knowingly making false or misleading statements |
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of fact concerning the need for parts, replacement, or repair |
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service; |
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(14) misrepresenting the authority of a salesman, |
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representative or agent to negotiate the final terms of a consumer |
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transaction; |
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(15) basing a charge for the repair of any item in |
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whole or in part on a guaranty or warranty instead of on the value of |
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the actual repairs made or work to be performed on the item without |
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stating separately the charges for the work and the charge for the |
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warranty or guaranty, if any; |
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(16) disconnecting, turning back, or resetting the |
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odometer of any motor vehicle so as to reduce the number of miles |
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indicated on the odometer gauge; |
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(17) advertising of any sale by fraudulently |
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representing that a person is going out of business; |
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(18) advertising, selling, or distributing a card |
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which purports to be a prescription drug identification card issued |
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under Section 4151.152, Insurance Code, in accordance with rules |
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adopted by the commissioner of insurance, which offers a discount |
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on the purchase of health care goods or services from a third party |
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provider, and which is not evidence of insurance coverage, unless: |
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(A) the discount is authorized under an agreement |
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between the seller of the card and the provider of those goods and |
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services or the discount or card is offered to members of the |
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seller; |
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(B) the seller does not represent that the card |
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provides insurance coverage of any kind; and |
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(C) the discount is not false, misleading, or |
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deceptive; |
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(19) using or employing a chain referral sales plan in |
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connection with the sale or offer to sell of goods, merchandise, or |
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anything of value, which uses the sales technique, plan, |
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arrangement, or agreement in which the buyer or prospective buyer |
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is offered the opportunity to purchase merchandise or goods and in |
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connection with the purchase receives the seller's promise or |
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representation that the buyer shall have the right to receive |
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compensation or consideration in any form for furnishing to the |
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seller the names of other prospective buyers if receipt of the |
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compensation or consideration is contingent upon the occurrence of |
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an event subsequent to the time the buyer purchases the merchandise |
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or goods; |
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(20) representing that a guaranty or warranty confers |
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or involves rights or remedies which it does not have or involve, |
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provided, however, that nothing in this subchapter shall be |
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construed to expand the implied warranty of merchantability as |
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defined in Sections 2.314 through 2.318 and Sections 2A.212 through |
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2A.216 to involve obligations in excess of those which are |
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appropriate to the goods; |
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(21) promoting a pyramid promotional scheme, as |
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defined by Section 32.55, Penal Code [17.461]; |
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(22) representing that work or services have been |
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performed on, or parts replaced in, goods when the work or services |
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were not performed or the parts replaced; |
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(23) filing suit founded upon a written contractual |
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obligation of and signed by the defendant to pay money arising out |
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of or based on a consumer transaction for goods, services, loans, or |
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extensions of credit intended primarily for personal, family, |
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household, or agricultural use in any county other than in the |
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county in which the defendant resides at the time of the |
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commencement of the action or in the county in which the defendant |
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in fact signed the contract; provided, however, that a violation of |
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this subsection shall not occur where it is shown by the person |
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filing such suit that the person neither knew or had reason to know |
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that the county in which such suit was filed was neither the county |
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in which the defendant resides at the commencement of the suit nor |
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the county in which the defendant in fact signed the contract; |
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(24) failing to disclose information concerning goods |
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or services which was known at the time of the transaction if such |
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failure to disclose such information was intended to induce the |
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consumer into a transaction into which the consumer would not have |
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entered had the information been disclosed; |
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(25) using the term "corporation," "incorporated," or |
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an abbreviation of either of those terms in the name of a business |
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entity that is not incorporated under the laws of this state or |
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another jurisdiction; |
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(26) selling, offering to sell, or illegally promoting |
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an annuity contract under Chapter 22, Acts of the 57th Legislature, |
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3rd Called Session, 1962 (Article 6228a-5, Vernon's Texas Civil |
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Statutes), with the intent that the annuity contract will be the |
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subject of a salary reduction agreement, as defined by that Act, if |
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the annuity contract is not an eligible qualified investment under |
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that Act or is not registered with the Teacher Retirement System of |
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Texas as required by Section 8A of that Act; |
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(27) taking advantage of a disaster declared by the |
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governor under Chapter 418, Government Code, by: |
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(A) selling or leasing fuel, food, medicine, or |
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another necessity at an exorbitant or excessive price; or |
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(B) demanding an exorbitant or excessive price in |
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connection with the sale or lease of fuel, food, medicine, or |
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another necessity; |
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(28) using the translation into a foreign language of |
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a title or other word, including "attorney," "immigration |
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consultant," "immigration expert," "lawyer," "licensed," "notary," |
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and "notary public," in any written or electronic material, |
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including an advertisement, a business card, a letterhead, |
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stationery, a website, or an online video, in reference to a person |
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who is not an attorney in order to imply that the person is |
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authorized to practice law in the United States; |
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(29) delivering or distributing a solicitation in |
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connection with a good or service that: |
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(A) represents that the solicitation is sent on |
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behalf of a governmental entity when it is not; or |
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(B) resembles a governmental notice or form that |
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represents or implies that a criminal penalty may be imposed if the |
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recipient does not remit payment for the good or service; |
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(30) delivering or distributing a solicitation in |
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connection with a good or service that resembles a check or other |
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negotiable instrument or invoice, unless the portion of the |
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solicitation that resembles a check or other negotiable instrument |
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or invoice includes the following notice, clearly and conspicuously |
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printed in at least 18-point type: |
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"SPECIMEN-NON-NEGOTIABLE"; |
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(31) in the production, sale, distribution, or |
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promotion of a synthetic substance that produces and is intended to |
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produce an effect when consumed or ingested similar to, or in excess |
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of, the effect of a controlled substance or controlled substance |
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analogue, as those terms are defined by Section 481.002, Health and |
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Safety Code: |
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(A) making a deceptive representation or |
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designation about the synthetic substance; or |
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(B) causing confusion or misunderstanding as to |
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the effects the synthetic substance causes when consumed or |
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ingested; |
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(32) a licensed public insurance adjuster directly or |
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indirectly soliciting employment, as defined by Section 38.01, |
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Penal Code, for an attorney, or a licensed public insurance |
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adjuster entering into a contract with an insured for the primary |
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purpose of referring the insured to an attorney without the intent |
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to actually perform the services customarily provided by a licensed |
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public insurance adjuster, provided that this subdivision may not |
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be construed to prohibit a licensed public insurance adjuster from |
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recommending a particular attorney to an insured; [or] |
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(33) owning, operating, maintaining, or advertising a |
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massage establishment, as defined by Section 455.001, Occupations |
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Code, that: |
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(A) is not appropriately licensed under Chapter |
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455, Occupations Code, or is not in compliance with the applicable |
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licensing and other requirements of that chapter; or |
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(B) is not in compliance with an applicable local |
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ordinance relating to the licensing or regulation of massage |
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establishments; or |
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(34) [(33)] a warrantor of a vehicle protection |
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product warranty using, in connection with the product, a name that |
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includes "casualty," "surety," "insurance," "mutual," or any other |
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word descriptive of an insurance business, including property or |
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casualty insurance, or a surety business. |
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SECTION 3.02. Section 17.461, Business & Commerce Code, is |
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transferred to Subchapter D, Chapter 32, Penal Code, and |
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redesignated as Section 32.55, Penal Code, to read as follows: |
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Sec. 32.55 [17.461]. PYRAMID PROMOTIONAL SCHEME. (a) In |
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this section: |
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(1) "Compensation" means payment of money, a financial |
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benefit, or another thing of value. The term does not include |
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payment based on sale of a product to a person, including a |
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participant, who purchases the product for actual use or |
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consumption. |
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(2) "Consideration" means the payment of cash or the |
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purchase of a product. The term does not include: |
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(A) a purchase of a product furnished at cost to |
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be used in making a sale and not for resale; |
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(B) a purchase of a product subject to a |
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repurchase agreement that complies with Subsection (b); or |
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(C) time and effort spent in pursuit of a sale or |
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in a recruiting activity. |
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(3) "Participate" means to contribute money into a |
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pyramid promotional scheme without promoting, organizing, or |
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operating the scheme. |
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(4) "Product" means a good, a service, or intangible |
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property of any kind. |
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(5) "Promoting a pyramid promotional scheme" means: |
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(A) inducing or attempting to induce one or more |
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other persons to participate in a pyramid promotional scheme; or |
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(B) assisting another person in inducing or |
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attempting to induce one or more other persons to participate in a |
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pyramid promotional scheme, including by providing references. |
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(6) "Pyramid promotional scheme" means a plan or |
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operation by which a person gives consideration for the opportunity |
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to receive compensation that is derived primarily from a person's |
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introduction of other persons to participate in the plan or |
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operation rather than from the sale of a product by a person |
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introduced into the plan or operation. |
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(b) To qualify as a repurchase agreement for the purposes of |
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Subsection (a)(2)(B), an agreement must be an enforceable agreement |
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by the seller to repurchase, on written request of the purchaser and |
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not later than the first anniversary of the purchaser's date of |
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purchase, all unencumbered products that are in an unused, |
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commercially resalable condition at a price not less than 90 |
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percent of the amount actually paid by the purchaser for the |
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products being returned, less any consideration received by the |
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purchaser for purchase of the products being returned. A product |
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that is no longer marketed by the seller is considered resalable if |
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the product is otherwise in an unused, commercially resalable |
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condition and is returned to the seller not later than the first |
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anniversary of the purchaser's date of purchase, except that the |
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product is not considered resalable if before the purchaser |
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purchased the product it was clearly disclosed to the purchaser |
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that the product was sold as a nonreturnable, discontinued, |
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seasonal, or special promotion item. |
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(c) A person commits an offense if the person contrives, |
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prepares, establishes, operates, advertises, sells, or promotes a |
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pyramid promotional scheme. An offense under this subsection is a |
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state jail felony. |
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(d) It is not a defense to prosecution for an offense under |
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this section that the pyramid promotional scheme involved both a |
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franchise to sell a product and the authority to sell additional |
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franchises if the emphasis of the scheme is on the sale of |
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additional franchises. |
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SECTION 3.03. Sections 522.001 and 522.002, Business & |
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Commerce Code, are transferred to Subchapter D, Chapter 32, Penal |
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Code, redesignated as Section 32.511, Penal Code, and amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 32.511 [522.001]. IDENTITY THEFT BY ELECTRONIC DEVICE |
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[DEFINITIONS]. (a) In this section [chapter]: |
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(1) "Payment card" means a credit card, debit card, |
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check card, or other card that is issued to an authorized user to |
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purchase or obtain goods, services, money, or any other thing of |
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value. |
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(2) "Re-encoder" means an electronic device that can |
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be used to transfer encoded information from a magnetic strip on a |
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payment card onto the magnetic strip of a different payment card. |
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(3) "Scanning device" means an electronic device used |
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to access, read, scan, or store information encoded on the magnetic |
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strip of a payment card. |
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(b) [Sec. 522.002. OFFENSE; PENALTY. (a)] A person commits |
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an offense if the person uses a scanning device or re-encoder to |
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access, read, scan, store, or transfer information encoded on the |
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magnetic strip of a payment card without the consent of an |
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authorized user of the payment card and with intent to harm or |
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defraud another. |
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(c) [(b)] An offense under this section is a Class B |
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misdemeanor, except that the offense is a state jail felony if the |
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information accessed, read, scanned, stored, or transferred was |
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protected health information as defined by the Health Insurance |
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Portability and Accountability Act and Privacy Standards, as |
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defined by Section 181.001, Health and Safety Code. |
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(d) [(c)] 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 or the other law. |
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SECTION 3.04. Article 18.18(g), Code of Criminal Procedure, |
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is amended to read as follows: |
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(g) For purposes of this article: |
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(1) "criminal instrument" has the meaning defined in |
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the Penal Code; |
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(2) "gambling device or equipment, altered gambling |
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equipment or gambling paraphernalia" has the meaning defined in the |
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Penal Code; |
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(3) "prohibited weapon" has the meaning defined in the |
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Penal Code; |
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(4) "dog-fighting equipment" means: |
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(A) equipment used for training or handling a |
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fighting dog, including a harness, treadmill, cage, decoy, pen, |
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house for keeping a fighting dog, feeding apparatus, or training |
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pen; |
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(B) equipment used for transporting a fighting |
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dog, including any automobile, or other vehicle, and its |
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appurtenances which are intended to be used as a vehicle for |
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transporting a fighting dog; |
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(C) equipment used to promote or advertise an |
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exhibition of dog fighting, including a printing press or similar |
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equipment, paper, ink, or photography equipment; or |
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(D) a dog trained, being trained, or intended to |
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be used to fight with another dog; |
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(5) "obscene device" and "obscene" have the meanings |
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assigned by Section 43.21, Penal Code; |
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(6) "re-encoder" has the meaning assigned by Section |
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32.511, Penal [522.001, Business & Commerce] Code; |
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(7) "scanning device" has the meaning assigned by |
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Section 32.511, Penal [522.001, Business & Commerce] Code; and |
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(8) "obscene material" and "child pornography" |
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include digital images and the media and equipment on which those |
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images are stored. |
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SECTION 3.05. Article 59.01(2), Code of Criminal Procedure, |
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is amended to read as follows: |
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(2) "Contraband" means property of any nature, |
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including real, personal, tangible, or intangible, that is: |
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(A) used in the commission of: |
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(i) any first or second degree felony under |
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the Penal Code; |
|
(ii) any felony under Section 15.031(b), |
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20.05, 20.06, 21.11, 38.04, or Chapter 43, 20A, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, |
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33A, or 35, Penal Code; |
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(iii) any felony under The Securities Act |
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(Article 581-1 et seq., Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes); or |
|
(iv) any offense under Chapter 49, Penal |
|
Code, that is punishable as a felony of the third degree or state |
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jail felony, if the defendant has been previously convicted three |
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times of an offense under that chapter; |
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(B) used or intended to be used in the commission |
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of: |
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(i) any felony under Chapter 481, Health |
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and Safety Code (Texas Controlled Substances Act); |
|
(ii) any felony under Chapter 483, Health |
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and Safety Code; |
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(iii) a felony under Chapter 151, Finance |
|
Code; |
|
(iv) any felony under Chapter 34, Penal |
|
Code; |
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(v) a Class A misdemeanor under Subchapter |
|
B, Chapter 365, Health and Safety Code, if the defendant has been |
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previously convicted twice of an offense under that subchapter; |
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(vi) any felony under Chapter 32, Human |
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Resources Code, or Chapter 31, 32, 35A, or 37, Penal Code, that |
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involves the state Medicaid program; |
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(vii) an offense [a Class B misdemeanor] |
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under Section 32.511, Penal [Chapter 522, Business & Commerce] |
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Code; |
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(viii) a Class A misdemeanor under Section |
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306.051, Business & Commerce Code; |
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(ix) any offense under Section 42.10, Penal |
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Code; |
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(x) any offense under Section 46.06(a)(1) |
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or 46.14, Penal Code; |
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(xi) any offense under Chapter 71, Penal |
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Code; |
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(xii) any offense under Section 20.05 or |
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20.06, Penal Code; or |
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(xiii) an offense under Section 326.002, |
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Business & Commerce Code; |
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(C) the proceeds gained from the commission of a |
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felony listed in Paragraph (A) or (B) of this subdivision, a |
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misdemeanor listed in Paragraph (B)(vii), (ix), (x), or (xi) of |
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this subdivision, or a crime of violence; |
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(D) acquired with proceeds gained from the |
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commission of a felony listed in Paragraph (A) or (B) of this |
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subdivision, a misdemeanor listed in Paragraph (B)(vii), (ix), (x), |
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or (xi) of this subdivision, or a crime of violence; |
|
(E) used to facilitate or intended to be used to |
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facilitate the commission of a felony under Section 15.031 or |
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43.25, Penal Code; or |
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(F) used to facilitate or intended to be used to |
|
facilitate the commission of a felony under Section 20A.02 or |
|
Chapter 43, Penal Code. |
|
SECTION 3.06. Sections 557.001 and 557.011, Government |
|
Code, are transferred to Chapter 40, Penal Code, as added by this |
|
Act, redesignated as Sections 40.01 and 40.02, Penal Code, |
|
respectively, and amended to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 40.01 [557.001]. SEDITION. (a) A person commits an |
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offense if the person knowingly: |
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(1) commits, attempts to commit, or conspires with one |
|
or more persons to commit an act intended to overthrow, destroy, or |
|
alter the constitutional form of government of this state or of any |
|
political subdivision of this state by force or violence; |
|
(2) under circumstances that constitute a clear and |
|
present danger to the security of this state or a political |
|
subdivision of this state, advocates, advises, or teaches or |
|
conspires with one or more persons to advocate, advise, or teach a |
|
person to commit or attempt to commit an act described in |
|
Subdivision (1); or |
|
(3) participates, with knowledge of the nature of the |
|
organization, in the management of an organization that engages in |
|
or attempts to engage in an act intended to overthrow, destroy, or |
|
alter the constitutional form of government of this state or of any |
|
political subdivision of this state by force or violence. |
|
(b) An offense under this section is a felony of the second |
|
degree [punishable by:
|
|
[(1) a fine not to exceed $20,000;
|
|
[(2)
confinement in the Texas Department of Criminal
|
|
Justice for a term of not less than one year or more than 20 years;
|
|
or
|
|
[(3) both fine and imprisonment]. |
|
(c) A person convicted of an offense under this section may |
|
not receive community supervision under Chapter 42A, Code of |
|
Criminal Procedure. |
|
Sec. 40.02 [557.011]. SABOTAGE. (a) A person commits an |
|
offense if the person, with the intent to injure the United States, |
|
this state, or any facility or property used for national defense |
|
sabotages or attempts to sabotage any property or facility used or |
|
to be used for national defense. |
|
(b) An offense under this section is a felony of the second |
|
degree [punishable by confinement in the Texas Department of
|
|
Criminal Justice for a term of not less than two years or more than
|
|
20 years]. |
|
(c) If conduct constituting an offense under this section |
|
also constitutes an offense under another provision of law, the |
|
actor may be prosecuted under both sections. |
|
(d) In this section, "sabotage" means to wilfully and |
|
maliciously damage or destroy property. |
|
SECTION 3.07. Section 557.002, Government Code, is amended |
|
to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 557.002. DISQUALIFICATION. A person who is finally |
|
convicted of an offense under Section 40.01, Penal Code, [557.001] |
|
may not hold office or a position of profit, trust, or employment |
|
with the state or any political subdivision of the state. |
|
SECTION 3.08. Section 3101.010(b), Government Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(b) An offense under this section is a misdemeanor and on |
|
conviction is punishable by[:
|
|
[(1)] a fine of not less than $5 or more than $300[;
|
|
[(2)
confinement in the county jail for a term not to
|
|
exceed three months; or
|
|
[(3) both a fine and confinement]. |
|
SECTION 3.09. Section 615.002(e), Local Government Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(e) A person commits an offense if the person violates a |
|
parking rule adopted under this section. An offense under this |
|
subsection is a Class C misdemeanor [punishable by a fine of not
|
|
less than $1 nor more than $20]. |
|
SECTION 3.10. Section 11.074(b), Natural Resources Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(b) Any owner of stock or a [his] manager, agent, employee, |
|
or servant of the owner who fences, uses, occupies, or appropriates |
|
by herding or line-riding any portion of the land covered by |
|
Subsection (a) [of this section] without a lease for the land |
|
commits an offense. An offense under this section is a Class C |
|
misdemeanor[, on conviction, shall be fined not less than $100 nor
|
|
more than $1,000 and confined in the county jail for not less than
|
|
three months nor more than two years]. Each day for which a |
|
violation continues constitutes a separate offense. |
|
SECTION 3.11. Section 88.134(b), Natural Resources Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(b) A person who violates any [other] provision of this |
|
chapter other than those covered by Subsection (a), a person who |
|
fails to comply with any of the other terms of this chapter, a |
|
person who fails to comply with the terms of a rule or order adopted |
|
by the governmental agency under the terms of this chapter, or a |
|
person who violates any of the rules or orders of the governmental |
|
agency adopted under the provisions of this chapter commits an |
|
offense. An offense under this subsection is a felony of the third |
|
degree [on conviction is considered guilty of a felony and on
|
|
conviction shall be punished by imprisonment in the Texas
|
|
Department of Criminal Justice for a term of not less than two nor
|
|
more than four years]. |
|
SECTION 3.12. Section 114.102(b), Natural Resources Code, |
|
is amended to read as follows: |
|
(b) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor |
|
[felony of the third degree]. |
|
SECTION 3.13. Section 264.151(a), Occupations Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) A person commits an offense if the person violates |
|
Section 256.001. An offense under this subsection is a felony of |
|
the third degree. [Each day of a violation is a separate offense.] |
|
SECTION 3.14. Section 266.303, Occupations Code, is amended |
|
by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (b-1) to read as |
|
follows: |
|
(b) An offense for a violation of Section 266.151 is a Class |
|
A misdemeanor, except that the offense is a felony of the third |
|
degree if it is shown on the trial of the offense that the defendant |
|
has previously been convicted of an offense for a violation of |
|
Section 266.151. |
|
(b-1) An offense for a violation of [or] Section 266.301(b) |
|
is a Class A misdemeanor, except that the offense is a felony of the |
|
third degree if it is shown on the trial of the offense that the |
|
defendant has previously been convicted of an offense for a |
|
violation of Section 266.301(b). |
|
SECTION 3.15. Section 1701.553(b), Occupations Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(b) An offense under Subsection (a) is a Class A misdemeanor |
|
[state jail felony]. |
|
SECTION 3.16. Subchapter E, Chapter 1802, Occupations Code, |
|
is amended by adding Section 1802.2025 to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 1802.2025. FRIVOLOUS CLAIMS; CIVIL PENALTY. (a) A |
|
person may not, for personal benefit or to harm another: |
|
(1) institute a claim under this chapter in which the |
|
person knows the person has no interest; or |
|
(2) institute a frivolous suit or claim that the |
|
person knows is false. |
|
(b) A person who violates Subsection (a) is subject to a |
|
civil penalty under Section 51.352. |
|
SECTION 3.17. Section 2155.002(e), Occupations Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(e) An offense under this section [Subsection (b)] is a |
|
misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $100. |
|
SECTION 3.18. Section 2156.006, Occupations Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 2156.006. FORFEITURE OF LEASE. A theater's lessee or a |
|
lessee's assigns forfeit the lease and any rights and privileges |
|
under the lease if the person[:
|
|
[(1)] does not comply with the law governing |
|
theaters[; or
|
|
[(2)
is convicted of an offense under Section
|
|
2156.005]. |
|
SECTION 3.19. Section 32.153(a), Parks and Wildlife Code, |
|
is amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) A person commits an offense if the person violates: |
|
(1) Section 32.051; |
|
(2) [Section 32.053(b);
|
|
[(3)] Section 32.056; |
|
(3) [(4) Section 32.057(d);
|
|
[(5)] Section 32.101; |
|
(4) [(6)] Section 32.104; |
|
(5) [(7)] Section 32.105; |
|
(6) [(8)] Section 32.106; |
|
(7) [(9)] Section 32.107; or |
|
(8) [(10)] Section 32.108. |
|
SECTION 3.20. Section 62.013, Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 62.013. PENALTIES. (a) Except as provided by |
|
Subsections (b), (b-1), and (c) of this section, a person who |
|
violates a provision of this subchapter commits an offense that is a |
|
Class C Parks and Wildlife Code misdemeanor. |
|
(b) A person who violates Section 62.003, 62.004, [62.005,] |
|
62.0065, 62.011(c), or 350.001 or a rule adopted under Section |
|
62.0065 commits an offense that is a Class A Parks and Wildlife Code |
|
misdemeanor, unless it is shown at the trial of the defendant for a |
|
violation of that section or rule, as appropriate, that the |
|
defendant has been convicted one or more times before the trial date |
|
of a violation of that section or rule, as appropriate, in which |
|
case the offense is a Parks and Wildlife Code state jail felony. |
|
(b-1) A person who violates Section 62.005 commits an |
|
offense that is a: |
|
(1) Class C Parks and Wildlife Code misdemeanor if the |
|
person commits the offense recklessly; |
|
(2) Class A Parks and Wildlife Code misdemeanor if the |
|
person intentionally or knowingly commits the offense; or |
|
(3) Parks and Wildlife Code state jail felony if it is |
|
shown at the trial of the defendant for a violation of that section |
|
that the defendant has been convicted one or more times before the |
|
trial date of a violation of that section. |
|
(c) In addition to the punishments provided in Subsections |
|
(a), [and] (b), and (b-1), a person who violates Section 62.003, |
|
62.004, 62.005, 62.0065, 62.011(c), or 350.001 or a rule adopted |
|
under Section 62.0065 is punishable by the revocation or suspension |
|
under Section 12.5015 of hunting and fishing licenses and permits. |
|
SECTION 3.21. Section 76.040, Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
|
amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (b-1) to |
|
read as follows: |
|
(b) A person who violates Section 76.037 [or Section 76.038
|
|
of this code] commits an offense that is a Class B Parks and |
|
Wildlife Code misdemeanor. |
|
(b-1) A person who violates Section 76.038 commits an |
|
offense that is a: |
|
(1) Class C Parks and Wildlife Code misdemeanor if the |
|
person commits the offense recklessly; or |
|
(2) Class B Parks and Wildlife Code misdemeanor if the |
|
person intentionally or knowingly commits the offense. |
|
SECTION 3.22. Section 76.118, Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
|
amended by amending Subsections (a), (b), and (c) and adding |
|
Subsection (a-1) to read as follows: |
|
(a) Except as provided in Subsections (a-1), (b), (c), |
|
(e-2), and (e-3), a person who violates a provision of this |
|
subchapter or a regulation of the commission issued under this |
|
subchapter commits an offense that is a Class C Parks and Wildlife |
|
Code misdemeanor. |
|
(a-1) A person who violates Section 76.101 or 76.109 or a |
|
regulation of the commission issued under one of those sections |
|
commits an offense that is a: |
|
(1) Class C Parks and Wildlife Code misdemeanor if the |
|
person commits the offense recklessly; or |
|
(2) Class B Parks and Wildlife Code misdemeanor if the |
|
person intentionally or knowingly commits the offense. |
|
(b) A person who violates Section [76.101,] 76.107[, or
|
|
76.109] or a regulation of the commission issued under that section |
|
[one of those sections] commits an offense that is a Class B Parks |
|
and Wildlife Code misdemeanor. |
|
(c) A person who violates Section 76.116, or at the same |
|
time violates Sections 76.109 and 76.116, commits an offense that |
|
is a: |
|
(1) Class B Parks and Wildlife Code misdemeanor if the |
|
person commits the offense recklessly; or |
|
(2) Class A Parks and Wildlife Code misdemeanor if the |
|
person intentionally or knowingly commits the offense. |
|
SECTION 3.23. Section 77.061(b), Parks and Wildlife Code, |
|
is amended to read as follows: |
|
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Subchapter E, Chapter |
|
12, of this code, a person who violates Subdivision (1) of |
|
Subsection (a) of this section or Section 77.024 of this code |
|
commits an offense that is a: |
|
(1) Class C Parks and Wildlife Code misdemeanor if the |
|
person commits the offense recklessly; or |
|
(2) Class B Parks and Wildlife Code misdemeanor if the |
|
person intentionally or knowingly commits the offense [and on
|
|
conviction is punishable by a fine of not less than $2,500 nor more
|
|
than $5,000, by confinement in the county jail for not less than six
|
|
months nor more than one year, or by both]. |
|
SECTION 3.24. Section 19.03(a), Penal Code, is amended to |
|
read as follows: |
|
(a) A person commits an offense if the person commits murder |
|
as defined under Section 19.02(b)(1) and: |
|
(1) the person murders a peace officer or fireman who |
|
is acting in the lawful discharge of an official duty and who the |
|
person knows is a peace officer or fireman; |
|
(2) the person intentionally commits the murder in the |
|
course of committing or attempting to commit kidnapping, burglary, |
|
robbery, aggravated sexual assault, arson, obstruction or |
|
retaliation, sabotage, or terroristic threat under Section |
|
22.07(a)(1), (3), (4), (5), or (6); |
|
(3) the person commits the murder for remuneration or |
|
the promise of remuneration or employs another to commit the murder |
|
for remuneration or the promise of remuneration; |
|
(4) the person commits the murder while escaping or |
|
attempting to escape from a penal institution; |
|
(5) the person, while incarcerated in a penal |
|
institution, murders another: |
|
(A) who is employed in the operation of the penal |
|
institution; or |
|
(B) with the intent to establish, maintain, or |
|
participate in a combination or in the profits of a combination; |
|
(6) the person: |
|
(A) while incarcerated for an offense under this |
|
section or Section 19.02, murders another; or |
|
(B) while serving a sentence of life imprisonment |
|
or a term of 99 years for an offense under Section 20.04, 22.021, or |
|
29.03, murders another; |
|
(7) the person murders more than one person: |
|
(A) during the same criminal transaction; or |
|
(B) during different criminal transactions but |
|
the murders are committed pursuant to the same scheme or course of |
|
conduct; |
|
(8) the person murders an individual under 10 years of |
|
age; or |
|
(9) the person murders another person in retaliation |
|
for or on account of the service or status of the other person as a |
|
judge or justice of the supreme court, the court of criminal |
|
appeals, a court of appeals, a district court, a criminal district |
|
court, a constitutional county court, a statutory county court, a |
|
justice court, or a municipal court. |
|
SECTION 3.25. Section 37.10(c)(2), Penal Code, is amended |
|
to read as follows: |
|
(2) An offense under this section is a felony of the |
|
third degree if it is shown on the trial of the offense that the |
|
governmental record was: |
|
(A) a public school record, report, or assessment |
|
instrument required under Chapter 39, Education Code, a public |
|
school record, form, report, or budget required under Chapter 42, |
|
Education Code, or a rule adopted under that chapter, data reported |
|
for a school district or open-enrollment charter school to the |
|
Texas Education Agency through the Public Education Information |
|
Management System (PEIMS) described by Section 42.006, Education |
|
Code, under a law or rule requiring that reporting, or a license, |
|
certificate, permit, seal, title, letter of patent, or similar |
|
document issued by government, by another state, or by the United |
|
States, unless the actor's intent is to defraud or harm another, in |
|
which event the offense is a felony of the second degree; |
|
(B) a written report of a medical, chemical, |
|
toxicological, ballistic, or other expert examination or test |
|
performed on physical evidence for the purpose of determining the |
|
connection or relevance of the evidence to a criminal action; |
|
(C) a written report of the certification, |
|
inspection, or maintenance record of an instrument, apparatus, |
|
implement, machine, or other similar device used in the course of an |
|
examination or test performed on physical evidence for the purpose |
|
of determining the connection or relevance of the evidence to a |
|
criminal action; or |
|
(D) a search warrant issued by a magistrate. |
|
SECTION 3.26. Title 8, Penal Code, is amended by adding |
|
Chapter 40, and a heading is added to that chapter to read as |
|
follows: |
|
CHAPTER 40. SEDITION AND SABOTAGE |
|
SECTION 3.27. Section 154.517, Tax Code, is amended to read |
|
as follows: |
|
Sec. 154.517. FELONY OR MISDEMEANOR. (a) An offense under |
|
Section [Sections] 154.511, 154.512, 154.514, 154.515, or |
|
[through] 154.516 is a felony of the third degree. |
|
(b) An offense under Section 154.513 is a Class A |
|
misdemeanor unless it is shown on the trial of the offense that the |
|
person has been previously convicted of an offense under that |
|
section, in which event the offense is a felony of the third degree. |
|
SECTION 3.28. Section 155.208, Tax Code, is amended to read |
|
as follows: |
|
Sec. 155.208. MISDEMEANOR. (a) An offense under Section |
|
155.202, 155.204, 155.205, 155.206, or 155.207 [Sections
|
|
155.202-155.207] is a Class A misdemeanor. |
|
(b) An offense under Section 155.203 is a Class C |
|
misdemeanor unless it is shown on the trial of the offense that the |
|
person has been previously convicted of an offense under that |
|
section, in which event the offense is a Class A misdemeanor. |
|
SECTION 3.29. Section 155.213, Tax Code, is amended to read |
|
as follows: |
|
Sec. 155.213. FELONY OR MISDEMEANOR. (a) An offense under |
|
Section 155.210 or 155.212 [Sections 155.209-155.212] is a felony |
|
of the third degree. |
|
(b) An offense under Section 155.209 is a Class A |
|
misdemeanor unless it is shown on the trial of the offense that the |
|
person has been previously convicted of an offense under that |
|
section, in which event the offense is a felony of the third degree. |
|
(c) An offense under Section 155.211 is a Class A |
|
misdemeanor unless it is shown on the trial of the offense that the |
|
person has been previously convicted of an offense under that |
|
section, in which event the offense is a felony of the third degree. |
|
SECTION 3.30. Section 15.030(c), Utilities Code, is amended |
|
to read as follows: |
|
(c) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor |
|
[felony of the third degree]. |
|
SECTION 3.31. Section 105.024(b), Utilities Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(b) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor |
|
[felony of the third degree]. |
|
SECTION 3.32. The following laws are repealed: |
|
(1) Section 101.64, Alcoholic Beverage Code; |
|
(2) Sections 17.30, 17.31, and 204.005, Business & |
|
Commerce Code; |
|
(3) Chapter 504, Business & Commerce Code; |
|
(4) the heading to Chapter 522, Business & Commerce |
|
Code; |
|
(5) Section 44.051, Education Code; |
|
(6) the heading to Subchapter B, Chapter 557, |
|
Government Code; |
|
(7) Sections 557.012 and 557.013, Government Code; |
|
(8) Sections 52.021 and 52.022, Labor Code; |
|
(9) Sections 205.401(b), 1802.302, 1805.103, |
|
2155.002(d), 2156.004, 2156.005, and 2158.003, Occupations Code; |
|
(10) Sections 32.053(b) and 32.057(d), Parks and |
|
Wildlife Code; |
|
(11) Articles 4005a, 4006a, 4006b, 4015d, 4015e, |
|
5196b, and 9010, Revised Statutes; and |
|
(12) Chapter 281 (H.B. 2680), Acts of the 73rd |
|
Legislature, Regular Session, 1993 (Article 4413(47e-1), Vernon's |
|
Texas Civil Statutes). |
|
ARTICLE 4. TRANSITION PROVISIONS; EFFECTIVE DATE |
|
SECTION 4.01. The changes in law made by this Act apply only |
|
to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. |
|
An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is |
|
governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed, |
|
and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For |
|
purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the |
|
effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred |
|
before that date. |
|
SECTION 4.02. To the extent of any conflict, this Act |
|
prevails over another Act of the 86th Legislature, Regular Session, |
|
2019, relating to nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in |
|
enacted codes. |
|
SECTION 4.03. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |