By: Vasut H.B. No. 55
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to civil and criminal consequences of trespassing on the
  property of another while entering this state from a neighboring
  jurisdiction; creating a criminal offense; providing a civil
  penalty.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  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 2.  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 3.  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 4.  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.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the
  last day of the legislative session.