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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to creating the criminal offense of harassment by |
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obstructing access to a hospital. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 22, Penal Code, is amended by adding |
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Section 22.115 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 22.115. HARASSMENT BY OBSTRUCTING ACCESS TO HOSPITAL. |
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(a) A person commits an offense if, with the intent to assault, |
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harass, or alarm, the person knowingly obstructs the entrance or |
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exit of a hospital licensed under Chapter 241, Health and Safety |
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Code, or other health care facility that provides emergency medical |
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care, as defined by Section 773.003, Health and Safety Code. |
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(b) An offense under this section is a felony of the third |
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degree. |
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(c) If conduct constituting an offense under this section |
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also constitutes an offense under another section of this code, the |
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actor may be prosecuted under either section. |
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(d) For purposes of this section, "obstruct" means to render |
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impassable or to render passage unreasonably inconvenient or |
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hazardous. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |