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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the consequences of successfully completing a period of |
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deferred adjudication community supervision. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Article 42A.111, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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amended by adding Subsections (c-1) and (c-2) and amending |
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Subsection (d) to read as follows: |
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(c-1) Notwithstanding any other law, an offense for which |
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the defendant received a dismissal and discharge under this article |
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may be used only as described by Section 12.42(g)(1), Penal Code, or |
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as otherwise described by this article. Subject to Subsection |
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(c-2), an offense for which the defendant received a dismissal and |
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discharge under this article may not be used as grounds for: |
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(1) denying housing or employment to, or terminating |
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the existing housing or employment of, an individual otherwise |
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entitled to or qualified for the housing or employment; or |
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(2) denying issuance of a professional or occupational |
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license to, or suspending or revoking the professional or |
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occupational license of, an individual otherwise entitled to or |
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qualified for the license. |
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(c-2) An offense for which the defendant received a |
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discharge and dismissal under this article may be used as grounds |
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for: |
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(1) denying or terminating housing or employment, if |
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the offense is: |
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(A) listed in Article 42A.054(a); |
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(B) described by Article 62.001(5) or (6); or |
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(C) committed under Chapter 21 or 43, Penal Code; |
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or |
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(2) denying, suspending, or revoking a professional or |
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occupational license, if the offense is: |
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(A) described by Subdivision (1)(A), (B), or (C); |
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or |
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(B) related to the activity or conduct for which |
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the person seeks or holds the license. |
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(d) For any defendant who receives a dismissal and discharge |
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under this article, [: |
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[(1)] on conviction of a subsequent offense, the fact |
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that the defendant previously has received deferred adjudication |
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community supervision is admissible before the court or jury for |
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consideration on the issue of penalty[; |
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[(2) if the defendant is an applicant for or the holder |
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of a license under Chapter 42, Human Resources Code, the Department |
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of Family and Protective Services may consider the fact that the |
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defendant previously has received deferred adjudication community |
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supervision in issuing, renewing, denying, or revoking a license |
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under that chapter; and |
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[(3) if the defendant is an applicant for or the holder |
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of a license to provide mental health or medical services for the |
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rehabilitation of sex offenders, the Council on Sex Offender |
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Treatment may consider the fact that the defendant previously has |
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received deferred adjudication community supervision in issuing, |
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renewing, denying, or revoking a license issued by that council]. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to a defendant placed on deferred adjudication community |
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supervision for an offense committed on or after the effective date |
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of this Act. A defendant placed on deferred adjudication community |
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supervision for an offense committed before the effective date of |
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this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was |
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committed, and the former law is continued in effect for that |
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purpose. For purposes of this section, an offense was committed |
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before the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense |
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was committed before that date. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |