87R20264 JRR-D
 
  By: Swanson, Tinderholt, et al. H.B. No. 1400
 
  Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1400:
 
  By:  Harless C.S.H.B. No. 1400
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the creation of the criminal offense of impersonating a
  private investigator.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter P, Chapter 1702, Occupations Code, is
  amended by adding Section 1702.3876 to read as follows:
         Sec. 1702.3876.  IMPERSONATING PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR;
  OFFENSE. (a)  A person commits an offense if the person:
               (1)  impersonates a private investigator with the
  intent to induce another to submit to the person's pretended
  authority or to rely on the person's pretended acts of a private
  investigator; or
               (2)  knowingly purports to exercise any function that
  requires licensure as a private investigator.
         (b)  An offense under this section 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 under this section.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.