By: Thierry, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Whitmire) H.B. No. 3553

(In the Senate - Received from the House May 5, 2023; May 10, 2023, read first time and referred to Committee on Criminal Justice; May 17, 2023, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 7, Nays 0; May 17, 2023, sent to printer.) Click here to see the committee vote

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to increasing the criminal penalty for the offense of trafficking of persons if committed at certain locations.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 20A.02(b-1), Penal Code, is amended to read as follows:

(b-1) An offense under this section is a felony of the first degree 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 25 years if it is shown on the trial of the offense that the actor committed the offense in a location that was:

(1) on the premises of or within 1,000 feet of the premises of:

(A) a school; or

(B) an institution of higher education or private or independent institution of higher education, as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code; or

(2) on premises or within 1,000 feet of premises where:

(A) an official school function was taking place; or

(B) an event sponsored or sanctioned by the University Interscholastic League was taking place.

SECTION 2. 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 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.

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