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AN ACT
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relating to creating the criminal offense of misrepresenting a |
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child as a family member at a port of entry. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 37, Penal Code, is amended by adding |
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Section 37.082 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 37.082. MISREPRESENTING CHILD AS FAMILY MEMBER AT PORT |
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OF ENTRY. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Child" means a person younger than 18 years of |
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age. |
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(2) "Family member" means a person who is related to |
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another person by consanguinity or affinity. |
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(3) "Port of entry" means a place designated by |
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executive order of the president of the United States, by order of |
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the United States secretary of the treasury, or by act of the United |
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States Congress at which a customs officer is authorized to enforce |
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customs laws. |
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(b) A person commits an offense if the person, with intent |
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to commit an offense under Section 20A.02, knowingly misrepresents |
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a child as a family member of the person to a peace officer or |
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federal special investigator at a port of entry. |
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(c) An offense under this section is a Class B misdemeanor. |
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(d) If conduct that constitutes an offense under this |
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section also constitutes an offense under another law, the actor |
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may be prosecuted under this section, the other law, or both. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 888 was passed by the House on May 2, |
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2019, by the following vote: Yeas 94, Nays 46, 2 present, not |
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voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. |
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No. 888 on May 23, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 100, Nays 43, |
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1 present, not voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 888 was passed by the Senate, with |
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amendments, on May 21, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays |
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1. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: __________________ |
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Date |
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__________________ |
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Governor |