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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to penalties for the intimidation and harassment of |
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election officials; creating criminal offenses. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 276, Election Code, is amended by adding |
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Section 276.020 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 276.020. INTIMIDATION AND HARASSMENT OF ELECTION |
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OFFICIALS. (a) A person commits an offense if the person, on more |
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than one occasion and pursuant to the same scheme or course of |
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conduct that is directed specifically at an election official in |
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the performance of statutory or other official duties related to |
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the administration of an election, knowingly engages in conduct |
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that: |
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(1) constitutes an offense under Section 42.07, Penal |
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Code, or that the actor knows or reasonably should know the election |
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official will regard as threatening: |
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(A) bodily injury or death for the election |
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official; |
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(B) bodily injury or death for a member of the |
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election official's family or household or for an individual with |
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whom the election official has a dating relationship; or |
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(C) that an offense will be committed against the |
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election official's property; |
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(2) causes the election official to be placed in fear |
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of bodily injury or death or in fear that an offense will be |
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committed against the election official's property, or to feel |
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harassed, annoyed, alarmed, abused, tormented, embarrassed, or |
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offended; and |
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(3) would cause a reasonable person to: |
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(A) fear bodily injury or death for himself or |
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herself; |
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(B) fear bodily injury or death for a member of |
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the person's family or household or for an individual with whom the |
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person has a dating relationship; |
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(C) fear that an offense will be committed |
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against the person's property; or |
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(D) feel harassed, annoyed, alarmed, abused, |
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tormented, embarrassed, or offended. |
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(b) A person commits an offense if the person uses or |
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threatens to use physical force, coercion, violence, restraint, |
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damage, harm, financial reprisal, or other loss against another |
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with the intent to improperly influence an election official in the |
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performance of a duty related to the administration of an election. |
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(c) An offense under this section is a felony of the third |
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degree. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |