By: Schaefer H.B. No. 79
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to civil and criminal trespass while entering this state
  from a neighboring jurisdiction without consent of the owner;
  creating a criminal offense; creating a civil penalty.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
  SECTION 1.  TRESPASS: CIVIL AND CRIMINAL PENALTIES
         SECTION 1.01.  Article 17.44, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
  amended by adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows:
         (b-1)  A magistrate shall require as a condition of release
  on bond for a defendant arrested for an offense under Section 30.08,
  Penal Code, that the defendant submit to electronic monitoring
  unless the magistrate finds that the defendant is not a flight risk.
         SECTION 1.02.  Chapter 752, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Subchapter D to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER D.  ENFORCEMENT BY ATTORNEY GENERAL
         Sec. 752.101.  CIVIL PENALTY: TRESPASS WHILE ENTERING THIS
  STATE. (a) A person who engages in conduct constituting an offense
  under Section 30.08, Penal Code, is liable to this state for a civil
  penalty in an amount not to exceed $10,000 for each occurrence of
  the conduct.
         (b)  The attorney general may bring an action to collect the
  civil penalty and may recover attorney's fees and costs incurred in
  bringing the action.
         SECTION 1.03.  Chapter 30, Penal Code, is amended by adding
  Section 30.08 to read as follows:
         Sec. 30.08.  TRESPASS WHILE ENTERING THIS STATE. (a) A
  person commits an offense if the person knowingly enters the
  property of another, without the effective consent of the owner,
  while knowingly entering this state from any neighboring
  jurisdiction, regardless of the person's immigration status.
         (b)  An offense under this section is a felony of the third
  degree.
         (c)  If conduct that constitutes an offense under this
  section also constitutes an offense under another law, the actor
  may be prosecuted under this section, the other law, or both.
  SECTION 2.  SEVERABILITY; EFFECTIVE DATE
         SECTION 2.01.  (a)  If any provision of this Act or its
  application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the
  invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of this
  Act that can be given effect without the invalid provision or
  application, and to this end the provisions of this Act are declared
  to be severable.
         (b)  Subsection (a) of this section does not affect another
  severability provision contained in this Act.
         SECTION 2.02.  This Act takes effect immediately if it
  receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each
  house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  
  If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate
  effect, this Act takes effect on the 91st day after the last day of
  the legislative session.