87R4690 JSC-D
 
  By: Wu H.B. No. 1735
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to criminal penalties for possession offenses under the
  Texas Controlled Substances Act.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
  ARTICLE 1. POSSESSION OFFENSE PENALTIES
         SECTION 1.01.  Section 481.115(c), Health and Safety Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
         (c)  An offense under Subsection (a) is a felony of the third
  degree with a maximum term of imprisonment of five years if the
  amount of the controlled substance possessed is, by aggregate
  weight, including adulterants or dilutants, one gram or more [but
  less than four grams].
         SECTION 1.02.  Section 481.1151(b), Health and Safety Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
         (b)  An offense under this section is:
               (1)  a state jail felony if the number of abuse units of
  the controlled substance is fewer than 20; and
               (2)  a felony of the third degree with a maximum term of
  imprisonment of five years if the number of abuse units of the
  controlled substance is 20 or more [but fewer than 80;
               [(3)  a felony of the second degree if the number of
  abuse units of the controlled substance is 80 or more but fewer than
  4,000;
               [(4)  a felony of the first degree if the number of
  abuse units of the controlled substance is 4,000 or more but fewer
  than 8,000; and
               [(5)  punishable by imprisonment in the Texas
  Department of Criminal Justice for life or for a term of not more
  than 99 years or less than 15 years and a fine not to exceed
  $250,000, if the number of abuse units of the controlled substance
  is 8,000 or more].
         SECTION 1.03.  Section 481.116(c), Health and Safety Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
         (c)  An offense under Subsection (a) is a felony of the third
  degree with a maximum term of imprisonment of five years if the
  amount of the controlled substance possessed is, by aggregate
  weight, including adulterants or dilutants, one gram or more [but
  less than four grams].
         SECTION 1.04.  Section 481.1161(b), Health and Safety Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
         (b)  An offense under this section is:
               (1)  a Class B misdemeanor if the amount of the
  controlled substance possessed is, by aggregate weight, including
  adulterants or dilutants, two ounces or less;
               (2)  a Class A misdemeanor if the amount of the
  controlled substance possessed is, by aggregate weight, including
  adulterants or dilutants, four ounces or less but more than two
  ounces;
               (3)  a state jail felony if the amount of the controlled
  substance possessed is, by aggregate weight, including adulterants
  or dilutants, five pounds or less but more than four ounces; and
               (4)  a felony of the third degree with a maximum term of
  imprisonment of five years if the amount of the controlled
  substance possessed is, by aggregate weight, including adulterants
  or dilutants, [50 pounds or less but] more than 5 pounds[;
               [(5)  a felony of the second degree if the amount of the
  controlled substance possessed is, by aggregate weight, including
  adulterants or dilutants, 2,000 pounds or less but more than 50
  pounds; and
               [(6)  punishable by imprisonment in the Texas
  Department of Criminal Justice for life or for a term of not more
  than 99 years or less than 5 years, and a fine not to exceed $50,000,
  if the amount of the controlled substance possessed is, by
  aggregate weight, including adulterants or dilutants, more than
  2,000 pounds].
         SECTION 1.05.  Section 481.117(c), Health and Safety Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
         (c)  An offense under Subsection (a) is a felony of the third
  degree with a maximum term of imprisonment of five years if the
  amount of the controlled substance possessed is, by aggregate
  weight, including adulterants or dilutants, 28 grams or more [but
  less than 200 grams].
         SECTION 1.06.  Section 481.118(c), Health and Safety Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
         (c)  An offense under Subsection (a) is a felony of the third
  degree with a maximum term of imprisonment of five years if the
  amount of the controlled substance possessed is, by aggregate
  weight, including adulterants or dilutants, 28 grams or more [but
  less than 200 grams].
         SECTION 1.07.  Section 481.121(b), Health and Safety Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
         (b)  An offense under Subsection (a) is:
               (1)  a Class B misdemeanor if the amount of marihuana
  possessed is two ounces or less;
               (2)  a Class A misdemeanor if the amount of marihuana
  possessed is four ounces or less but more than two ounces;
               (3)  a state jail felony if the amount of marihuana
  possessed is five pounds or less but more than four ounces; and
               (4)  a felony of the third degree with a maximum term of
  imprisonment of five years if the amount of marihuana possessed is
  [50 pounds or less but] more than 5 pounds[;
               [(5)  a felony of the second degree if the amount of
  marihuana possessed is 2,000 pounds or less but more than 50 pounds;
  and
               [(6)  punishable by imprisonment in the Texas
  Department of Criminal Justice for life or for a term of not more
  than 99 years or less than 5 years, and a fine not to exceed $50,000,
  if the amount of marihuana possessed is more than 2,000 pounds].
         SECTION 1.08.  Sections 481.115(d), (e), and (f), 481.116(d)
  and (e), 481.117(d) and (e), 481.118(d) and (e), and 481.134(c),
  (d), (e), (f), and (g), Health and Safety Code, are repealed.
  ARTICLE 2. PRIOR CONVICTIONS
         SECTION 2.01.  Subchapter D, Chapter 12, Penal Code, is
  amended by adding Section 12.495 to read as follows:
         Sec. 12.495.  DRUG POSSESSION OFFENSES NOT SUBJECT TO
  ENHANCEMENT. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
  subchapter:
               (1)  a previous conviction for an offense under Section
  481.115, 481.1151, 481.116, 481.1161, 481.117, 481.118,
  481.119(b), 481.121, or 481.125(a), Health and Safety Code, may not
  be used for enhancement purposes under this subchapter; and
               (2)  a previous conviction for any offense may not be
  used for enhancing an offense under Section 481.115, 481.1151,
  481.116, 481.1161, 481.117, 481.118, 481.119(b), 481.121, or
  481.125(a), Health and Safety Code, under any provision of this
  subchapter.
  ARTICLE 3. CONFORMING CHANGES
         SECTION 3.01.  Article 42A.054(a), Code of Criminal
  Procedure, is amended to read as follows:
         (a)  Article 42A.053 does not apply to a defendant adjudged
  guilty of an offense under:
               (1)  Section 15.03, Penal Code, if the offense is
  punishable as a felony of the first degree;
               (2)  Section 19.02, Penal Code (Murder);
               (3)  Section 19.03, Penal Code (Capital Murder);
               (4)  Section 20.04, Penal Code (Aggravated
  Kidnapping);
               (5)  Section 20A.02, Penal Code (Trafficking of
  Persons);
               (6)  Section 20A.03, Penal Code (Continuous
  Trafficking of Persons);
               (7)  Section 21.11, Penal Code (Indecency with a
  Child);
               (8)  Section 22.011, Penal Code (Sexual Assault);
               (9)  Section 22.021, Penal Code (Aggravated Sexual
  Assault);
               (10)  Section 22.04(a)(1), Penal Code (Injury to a
  Child, Elderly Individual, or Disabled Individual), if:
                     (A)  the offense is punishable as a felony of the
  first degree; and
                     (B)  the victim of the offense is a child;
               (11)  Section 29.03, Penal Code (Aggravated Robbery);
               (12)  Section 30.02, Penal Code (Burglary), if:
                     (A)  the offense is punishable under Subsection
  (d) of that section; and
                     (B)  the actor committed the offense with the
  intent to commit a felony under Section 21.02, 21.11, 22.011,
  22.021, or 25.02, Penal Code;
               (13)  Section 43.04, Penal Code (Aggravated Promotion
  of Prostitution);
               (14)  Section 43.05, Penal Code (Compelling
  Prostitution);
               (15)  Section 43.25, Penal Code (Sexual Performance by
  a Child); or
               (16)  Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code, for which
  punishment is increased under[:
                     [(A)]  Section 481.140 of that code (Use of Child
  in Commission of Offense)[; or
                     [(B)  Section 481.134(c), (d), (e), or (f) of that
  code (Drug-free Zones) if it is shown that the defendant has been
  previously convicted of an offense for which punishment was
  increased under any of those subsections].
         SECTION 3.02.  Article 42A.056, Code of Criminal Procedure,
  is amended to read as follows:
         Art. 42A.056.  LIMITATION ON JURY-RECOMMENDED COMMUNITY
  SUPERVISION. A defendant is not eligible for community supervision
  under Article 42A.055 if the defendant:
               (1)  is sentenced to a term of imprisonment that
  exceeds 10 years;
               (2)  is convicted of a state jail felony for which
  suspension of the imposition of the sentence occurs automatically
  under Article 42A.551;
               (3)  is adjudged guilty of an offense under Section
  19.02, Penal Code;
               (4)  is convicted of an offense under Section 21.11,
  22.011, or 22.021, Penal Code, if the victim of the offense was
  younger than 14 years of age at the time the offense was committed;
               (5)  is convicted of an offense under Section 20.04,
  Penal Code, if:
                     (A)  the victim of the offense was younger than 14
  years of age at the time the offense was committed; and
                     (B)  the actor committed the offense with the
  intent to violate or abuse the victim sexually; or
               (6)  is convicted of an offense under Section 20A.02,
  20A.03, 43.04, 43.05, or 43.25, Penal Code[; or
               [(7)  is convicted of an offense for which punishment
  is increased under Section 481.134(c), (d), (e), or (f), Health and
  Safety Code, if it is shown that the defendant has been previously
  convicted of an offense for which punishment was increased under
  any of those subsections].
         SECTION 3.03.  Article 42A.102(b), Code of Criminal
  Procedure, as amended by Chapters 1137 (H.B. 2758) and 1298 (H.B.
  3582), Acts of the 86th Legislature, Regular Session, 2019, is
  reenacted and amended to read as follows:
         (b)  In all other cases, the judge may grant deferred
  adjudication community supervision unless:
               (1)  the defendant is charged with an offense:
                     (A)  under Section 20A.02, [or] 20A.03, [or]
  49.045, 49.05, 49.065, 49.07, or 49.08, Penal Code;
                     (B)  under Section 49.04 or 49.06, Penal Code,
  and, at the time of the offense:
                           (i)  the defendant held a commercial
  driver's license or a commercial learner's permit; or
                           (ii)  the defendant's alcohol concentration,
  as defined by Section 49.01, Penal Code, was 0.15 or more; or
                     (C)  for which punishment may be increased under
  Section 49.09, Penal Code; [or
                     [(D)  for which punishment may be increased under
  Section 481.134(c), (d), (e), or (f), Health and Safety Code, if it
  is shown that the defendant has been previously convicted of an
  offense for which punishment was increased under any one of those
  subsections;]
               (2)  the defendant:
                     (A)  is charged with an offense under Section
  21.11, 22.011, 22.021, 43.04, or 43.05, Penal Code, regardless of
  the age of the victim, or a felony described by Article 42A.453(b),
  other than a felony described by Subdivision (1)(A) or (3)(B) of
  this subsection; and
                     (B)  has previously been placed on community
  supervision for an offense under Paragraph (A);
               (3)  the defendant is charged with an offense under:
                     (A)  Section 21.02, Penal Code; or
                     (B)  Section 22.021, Penal Code, that is
  punishable under Subsection (f) of that section or under Section
  12.42(c)(3) or (4), Penal Code; or
               (4)  the defendant is charged with an offense under
  Section 19.02, Penal Code, except that the judge may grant deferred
  adjudication community supervision on determining that the
  defendant did not cause the death of the deceased, did not intend to
  kill the deceased or another, and did not anticipate that a human
  life would be taken.
         SECTION 3.04.  Section 481.126, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 481.126.  OFFENSE: ILLEGAL BARTER, EXPENDITURE, OR
  INVESTMENT. (a) A person commits an offense if the person:
               (1)  barters property or expends funds the person knows
  are derived from the commission of an offense under this chapter
  punishable by imprisonment in the Texas Department of Criminal
  Justice for life; or
               (2)  [barters property or expends funds the person
  knows are derived from the commission of an offense under Section
  481.121(a) that is punishable under Section 481.121(b)(5);
               [(3)]  barters property or finances or invests funds
  the person knows or believes are intended to further the commission
  of an offense for which the punishment is described by Subdivision
  (1)[; or
               [(4)  barters property or finances or invests funds the
  person knows or believes are intended to further the commission of
  an offense under Section 481.121(a) that is punishable under
  Section 481.121(b)(5)].
         (b)  An offense under this section [Subsection (a)(1) or (3)]
  is a felony of the first degree. [An offense under Subsection
  (a)(2) or (4) is a felony of the second degree.]
         SECTION 3.05.  Section 71.023(a), Penal Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (a)  A person commits an offense if the person, as part of the
  identifiable leadership of a criminal street gang, knowingly
  finances, directs, or supervises the commission of, or a conspiracy
  to commit, one or more of the following offenses by members of a
  criminal street gang:
               (1)  a felony offense that is listed in Article
  42A.054(a), Code of Criminal Procedure;
               (2)  a felony offense for which it is shown that a
  deadly weapon, as defined by Section 1.07, was used or exhibited
  during the commission of the offense or during immediate flight
  from the commission of the offense; or
               (3)  an offense that is punishable under Section
  481.112(e), 481.112(f), 481.1121(b)(4), [481.115(f),] or
  481.120(b)(6), Health and Safety Code.
  ARTICLE 4. TRANSITION; EFFECTIVE DATE
         SECTION 4.01.  The changes in law made by this Act apply to
  an offense committed before, on, or after September 1, 2021, except
  that a final conviction for an offense that exists on September 1,
  2021, is unaffected by this Act.
         SECTION 4.02.  To the extent of any conflict, this Act
  prevails over another Act of the 87th Legislature, Regular Session,
  2021, relating to nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in
  enacted codes.
         SECTION 4.03.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.