87R4579 MCF-D
 
  By: A. Johnson of Harris H.B. No. 1402
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to a criminal offense committed against a person because
  of bias or prejudice on the basis of sexual orientation or gender
  identity.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Article 42.014(a), Code of Criminal Procedure,
  is amended to read as follows:
         (a)  In the trial of an offense under Title 5, Penal Code, or
  Section 28.02, 28.03, or 28.08, Penal Code, the judge shall make an
  affirmative finding of fact and enter the affirmative finding in
  the judgment of the case if at the guilt or innocence phase of the
  trial, the judge or the jury, whichever is the trier of fact,
  determines beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant
  intentionally selected the person against whom the offense was
  committed, or intentionally selected the person's property that was
  damaged or affected as a result of the offense, because of the
  defendant's bias or prejudice against a group identified by race,
  color, disability, religion, national origin or ancestry, age,
  gender, [or] sexual orientation, or gender identity [preference] or
  by status as a peace officer or judge.
         SECTION 2.  Article 42.014(c), Code of Criminal Procedure,
  is repealed.
         SECTION 3.  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 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.