By: Lozano H.B. No. 66
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the prosecution of the offense of smuggling of persons.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 20.01, Penal Code, is amended by adding
  Subdivision (9) to read as follows:
               (9)  "Cultural resource site or area," "natural area,"
  "open space area," and "park" have the meanings assigned by Section
  24.001, Parks and Wildlife Code.
         SECTION 2.  Section 20.05(a), Penal Code, is amended to read
  as follows:
         (a)  A person commits an offense if the person knowingly:
               (1)  uses a motor vehicle, aircraft, watercraft, or
  other means of conveyance to transport an individual with the
  intent to:
                     (A)  conceal the individual from a peace officer
  or special investigator; or
                     (B)  flee from a person the actor knows is a peace
  officer or special investigator attempting to lawfully arrest or
  detain the actor;
               (2)  encourages or induces a person to enter or remain
  in this country in violation of federal law by concealing,
  harboring, or shielding that person from detection; or
               (3)  assists, guides, or directs two or more
  individuals to enter or remain on a cultural resource site or area,
  natural area, open space area, park, or agricultural land without
  the effective consent of the owner.
         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 January 1, 2024.