86R1448 LHC-D
 
  By: Leach H.B. No. 1343
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to persons who may be prosecuted for the criminal offense
  of improper contact with a victim.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 38.111(a), Penal Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (a)  A person commits an offense if the person, while
  confined in a correctional facility after being charged with or
  convicted of an offense listed in Article 62.001(5), Code of
  Criminal Procedure, contacts by letter, telephone, or any other
  means, either directly or through a third party, a victim of the
  offense or a member of the victim's family, if [:
               [(1)     the victim was younger than 17 years of age at the
  time of the commission of the offense for which the person is
  confined; and
               [(2)]  the director of the correctional facility has
  not, before the person makes contact with the victim:
               (1) [(A)]  received written and dated consent to the
  contact from:
                     (A)  the victim, if the victim was 17 years of age
  or older at the time  of the commission of the offense for which the
  person is confined; or
                     (B)  if the victim was younger than 17 years of age
  at the time of the commission of the offense for which the person is
  confined:
                           (i)  a parent of the victim;
                           (ii)  a legal guardian of the victim;
                           (iii)  the victim, if the victim is 17 years
  of age or older at the time of giving the consent; or
                           (iv)  a member of the victim's family who is
  17 years of age or older; and
               (2) [(B)]  provided the person with a copy of the
  consent.
         SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies 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 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.