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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the criminal penalties for possession of marihuana. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 481.121(b), Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) An offense under Subsection (a) is: |
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(1) a Class C [B misdemeanor if the amount of marihuana |
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possessed is two ounces or less; |
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[(2) a Class A] misdemeanor if the amount of marihuana |
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possessed is four ounces or less [but more than two ounces]; |
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(2) [(3)] a state jail felony if the amount of |
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marihuana possessed is five pounds or less but more than four |
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ounces; |
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(3) [(4)] a felony of the third degree if the amount of |
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marihuana possessed is 50 pounds or less but more than 5 pounds; |
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(4) [(5)] a felony of the second degree if the amount |
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of marihuana possessed is 2,000 pounds or less but more than 50 |
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pounds; and |
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(5) [(6)] punishable by imprisonment in the Texas |
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Department of Criminal Justice for life or for a term of not more |
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than 99 years or less than 5 years, and a fine not to exceed $50,000, |
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if the amount of marihuana possessed is more than 2,000 pounds. |
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SECTION 2. Article 14.06(d), Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(d) Subsection (c) applies only to a person charged with |
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committing an offense under: |
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(1) [Section 481.121, Health and Safety Code, if the |
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offense is punishable under Subsection (b)(1) or (2) of that |
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section; |
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[(1-a)] Section 481.1161, Health and Safety Code, if |
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the offense is punishable under Subsection (b)(1) or (2) of that |
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section; |
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(2) Section 28.03, Penal Code, if the offense is |
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punishable under Subsection (b)(2) of that section; |
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(3) Section 28.08, Penal Code, if the offense is |
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punishable under Subsection (b)(2) or (3) of that section; |
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(4) Section 31.03, Penal Code, if the offense is |
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punishable under Subsection (e)(2)(A) of that section; |
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(5) Section 31.04, Penal Code, if the offense is |
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punishable under Subsection (e)(2) of that section; |
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(6) Section 38.114, Penal Code, if the offense is |
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punishable as a Class B misdemeanor; or |
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(7) Section 521.457, Transportation Code. |
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SECTION 3. Articles 42A.551(a) and (c), Code of Criminal |
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Procedure, are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) Except as otherwise provided by Subsection (b) or (c), |
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on conviction of a state jail felony under Section 481.115(b), |
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481.1151(b)(1), 481.116(b), 481.1161(b)(3), 481.121(b)(2) |
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[481.121(b)(3)], or 481.129(g)(1), Health and Safety Code, that is |
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punished under Section 12.35(a), Penal Code, the judge shall |
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suspend the imposition of the sentence and place the defendant on |
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community supervision. |
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(c) Subsection (a) does not apply to a defendant who: |
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(1) under Section 481.1151(b)(1), Health and Safety |
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Code, possessed more than five abuse units of the controlled |
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substance; |
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(2) under Section 481.1161(b)(3), Health and Safety |
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Code, possessed more than one pound, by aggregate weight, including |
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adulterants or dilutants, of the controlled substance; or |
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(3) under Section 481.121(b)(2) [481.121(b)(3)], |
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Health and Safety Code, possessed more than one pound of marihuana. |
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SECTION 4. Section 411.0728(a), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) This section applies only to a person: |
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(1) who is convicted of or placed on deferred |
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adjudication community supervision for an offense under: |
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(A) Section 481.120, Health and Safety Code, if |
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the offense is punishable under Subsection (b)(1); |
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(B) [Section 481.121, Health and Safety Code, if |
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the offense is punishable under Subsection (b)(1); |
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[(C)] Section 31.03, Penal Code, if the offense is |
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punishable under Subsection (e)(1) or (2); or |
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(C) [(D)] Section 43.02, Penal Code; and |
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(2) who, if requested by the applicable law |
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enforcement agency or prosecuting attorney to provide assistance in |
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the investigation or prosecution of an offense under Section |
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20A.02, 20A.03, or 43.05, Penal Code, or a federal offense |
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containing elements that are substantially similar to the elements |
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of an offense under any of those sections: |
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(A) provided assistance in the investigation or |
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prosecution of the offense; or |
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(B) did not provide assistance in the |
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investigation or prosecution of the offense due to the person's age |
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or a physical or mental disability resulting from being a victim of |
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an offense described by this subdivision. |
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SECTION 5. Section 481.126(a), Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) A person commits an offense if the person: |
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(1) barters property or expends funds the person knows |
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are derived from the commission of an offense under this chapter |
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punishable by imprisonment in the Texas Department of Criminal |
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Justice for life; |
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(2) barters property or expends funds the person knows |
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are derived from the commission of an offense under Section |
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481.121(a) that is punishable under Subsection (b)(4) of that |
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section [Section 481.121(b)(5)]; |
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(3) barters property or finances or invests funds the |
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person knows or believes are intended to further the commission of |
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an offense for which the punishment is described by Subdivision |
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(1); or |
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(4) barters property or finances or invests funds the |
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person knows or believes are intended to further the commission of |
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an offense under Section 481.121(a) that is punishable under |
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Subsection (b)(4) of that section [Section 481.121(b)(5)]. |
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SECTION 6. Sections 481.134(c), (d), (e), and (f), Health |
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and Safety Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(c) The minimum term of confinement or imprisonment for an |
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offense otherwise punishable under Section 481.112(c), (d), (e), or |
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(f), 481.1121(b)(2), (3), or (4), 481.113(c), (d), or (e), |
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481.114(c), (d), or (e), 481.115(c)-(f), 481.1151(b)(2), (3), (4), |
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or (5), 481.116(c), (d), or (e), 481.1161(b)(4), (5), or (6), |
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481.117(c), (d), or (e), 481.118(c), (d), or (e), 481.120(b)(4), |
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(5), or (6), or 481.121(b)(3), (4) [481.121(b)(4)], or (5)[, or |
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(6)] is increased by five years and the maximum fine for the offense |
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is doubled if it is shown on the trial of the offense that the |
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offense was committed: |
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(1) in, on, or within 1,000 feet of the premises of a |
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school, the premises of a public or private youth center, or a |
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playground; or |
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(2) on a school bus. |
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(d) An offense otherwise punishable under Section |
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481.112(b), 481.1121(b)(1), 481.113(b), 481.114(b), 481.115(b), |
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481.1151(b)(1), 481.116(b), 481.1161(b)(3), 481.120(b)(3), or |
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481.121(b)(2) [481.121(b)(3)] is a felony of the third degree if it |
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is shown on the trial of the offense that the offense was committed: |
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(1) in, on, or within 1,000 feet of any real property |
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that is owned, rented, or leased to a school or school board, the |
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premises of a public or private youth center, or a playground; or |
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(2) on a school bus. |
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(e) An offense otherwise punishable under Section |
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481.117(b), 481.119(a), or 481.120(b)(2)[, or 481.121(b)(2)] is a |
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state jail felony if it is shown on the trial of the offense that the |
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offense was committed: |
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(1) in, on, or within 1,000 feet of any real property |
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that is owned, rented, or leased to a school or school board, the |
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premises of a public or private youth center, or a playground; or |
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(2) on a school bus. |
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(f) An offense otherwise punishable under Section |
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481.118(b), 481.119(b), or 481.120(b)(1)[, or 481.121(b)(1)] is a |
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Class A misdemeanor if it is shown on the trial of the offense that |
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the offense was committed: |
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(1) in, on, or within 1,000 feet of any real property |
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that is owned, rented, or leased to a school or school board, the |
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premises of a public or private youth center, or a playground; or |
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(2) on a school bus. |
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SECTION 7. Sections 481.121 and 481.134, Health and Safety |
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Code, as amended by this Act, apply to an offense committed under |
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Section 481.121 or an offense committed under Section 481.121 and |
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punishable under Section 481.134 before, on, or after September 1, |
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2021, except that a final conviction for an offense that exists on |
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September 1, 2021, is unaffected by this Act. |
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SECTION 8. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |