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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to prohibiting the carrying of a firearm by a member of a |
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criminal street gang while engaged in certain criminal activity; |
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creating a criminal offense; changing the eligibility for community |
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supervision. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 125.0015(a), Civil Practice and Remedies |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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(a) A person who maintains a place to which persons |
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habitually go for the following purposes and who knowingly |
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tolerates the activity and furthermore fails to make reasonable |
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attempts to abate the activity maintains a common nuisance: |
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(1) discharge of a firearm in a public place as |
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prohibited by the Penal Code; |
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(2) reckless discharge of a firearm as prohibited by |
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the Penal Code; |
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(3) engaging in organized criminal activity as a |
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member of a combination as prohibited by the Penal Code; |
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(4) delivery, possession, manufacture, or use of a |
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substance or other item in violation of Chapter 481, Health and |
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Safety Code; |
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(5) gambling, gambling promotion, or communicating |
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gambling information as prohibited by the Penal Code; |
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(6) prostitution as described by Section 43.02, Penal |
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Code, solicitation of prostitution as described by Section 43.021, |
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Penal Code, promotion of prostitution as described by Section |
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43.03, Penal Code, or aggravated promotion of prostitution as |
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described by Section 43.04, Penal Code; |
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(7) compelling prostitution as prohibited by the Penal |
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Code; |
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(8) commercial manufacture, commercial distribution, |
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or commercial exhibition of obscene material as prohibited by the |
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Penal Code; |
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(9) aggravated assault as described by Section 22.02, |
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Penal Code; |
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(10) sexual assault as described by Section 22.011, |
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Penal Code; |
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(11) aggravated sexual assault as described by Section |
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22.021, Penal Code; |
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(12) robbery as described by Section 29.02, Penal |
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Code; |
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(13) aggravated robbery as described by Section 29.03, |
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Penal Code; |
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(14) unlawfully carrying a weapon as described by |
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Section 46.02, Penal Code, or unlawfully carrying a firearm as |
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described by Section 46.025, Penal Code; |
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(15) murder as described by Section 19.02, Penal Code; |
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(16) capital murder as described by Section 19.03, |
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Penal Code; |
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(17) continuous sexual abuse of young child or |
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disabled individual as described by Section 21.02, Penal Code; |
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(18) massage therapy or other massage services in |
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violation of Chapter 455, Occupations Code; |
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(19) employing or entering into a contract for the |
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performance of work or the provision of a service with an individual |
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younger than 21 years of age for work or services performed at a |
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sexually oriented business as defined by Section 243.002, Local |
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Government Code; |
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(20) trafficking of persons as described by Section |
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20A.02, Penal Code; |
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(21) sexual conduct or performance by a child as |
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described by Section 43.25, Penal Code; |
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(22) employment harmful to a child as described by |
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Section 43.251, Penal Code; |
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(23) criminal trespass as described by Section 30.05, |
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Penal Code; |
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(24) disorderly conduct as described by Section 42.01, |
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Penal Code; |
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(25) arson as described by Section 28.02, Penal Code; |
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(26) criminal mischief as described by Section 28.03, |
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Penal Code, that causes a pecuniary loss of $500 or more; |
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(27) a graffiti offense in violation of Section 28.08, |
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Penal Code; or |
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(28) permitting an individual younger than 18 years of |
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age to enter the premises of a sexually oriented business as defined |
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by Section 243.002, Local Government Code. |
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SECTION 2. Article 17.03(b-2), Code of Criminal Procedure, |
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is amended to read as follows: |
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(b-2) Except as provided by Articles 15.21, 17.033, and |
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17.151, a defendant may not be released on personal bond if the |
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defendant: |
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(1) is charged with: |
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(A) an offense involving violence; or |
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(B) an offense under Section 46.025, Penal Code; |
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or |
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(2) while released on bail or community supervision |
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for an offense described by Subdivision (1) [involving violence], |
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is charged with committing: |
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(A) any offense punishable as a felony; or |
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(B) an offense under the following provisions of |
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the Penal Code: |
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(i) Section 22.01(a)(1) (assault); |
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(ii) Section 22.05 (deadly conduct); |
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(iii) Section 22.07 (terroristic threat); |
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or |
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(iv) Section 42.01(a)(7) or (8) (disorderly |
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conduct involving firearm). |
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SECTION 3. Article 42A.054(a), Code of Criminal Procedure, |
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is amended to read as follows: |
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(a) Article 42A.053 does not apply to a defendant adjudged |
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guilty of an offense under: |
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(1) Section 15.03, Penal Code, if the offense is |
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punishable as a felony of the first degree; |
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(2) Section 19.02, Penal Code (Murder); |
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(3) Section 19.03, Penal Code (Capital Murder); |
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(4) Section 20.04, Penal Code (Aggravated |
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Kidnapping); |
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(5) Section 20A.02, Penal Code (Trafficking of |
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Persons); |
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(6) Section 20A.03, Penal Code (Continuous |
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Trafficking of Persons); |
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(7) Section 21.11, Penal Code (Indecency with a |
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Child); |
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(8) Section 22.011, Penal Code (Sexual Assault); |
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(9) Section 22.021, Penal Code (Aggravated Sexual |
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Assault); |
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(10) Section 22.04(a)(1), Penal Code (Injury to a |
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Child, Elderly Individual, or Disabled Individual), if: |
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(A) the offense is punishable as a felony of the |
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first degree; and |
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(B) the victim of the offense is a child; |
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(11) Section 29.03, Penal Code (Aggravated Robbery); |
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(12) Section 30.02, Penal Code (Burglary), if: |
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(A) the offense is punishable under Subsection |
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(d) of that section; and |
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(B) the actor committed the offense with the |
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intent to commit a felony under Section 21.02, 21.11, 22.011, |
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22.021, or 25.02, Penal Code; |
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(13) Section 43.04, Penal Code (Aggravated Promotion |
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of Prostitution); |
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(14) Section 43.05, Penal Code (Compelling |
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Prostitution); |
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(15) Section 43.25, Penal Code (Sexual Performance by |
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a Child); |
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(15-a) Section 46.025, Penal Code; |
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(16) Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code, for which |
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punishment is increased under: |
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(A) Section 481.140 of that code (Use of Child in |
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Commission of Offense); or |
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(B) Section 481.134(c), (d), (e), or (f) of that |
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code (Drug-free Zones) if it is shown that the defendant has been |
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previously convicted of an offense for which punishment was |
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increased under any of those subsections; or |
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(17) Section 481.1123, Health and Safety Code |
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(Manufacture or Delivery of Substance in Penalty Group 1-B), if the |
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offense is punishable under Subsection (d), (e), or (f) of that |
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section. |
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SECTION 4. Article 42A.102(b), Code of Criminal Procedure, |
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is amended to read as follows: |
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(b) In all other cases, the judge may grant deferred |
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adjudication community supervision unless: |
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(1) the defendant is charged with an offense: |
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(A) under Section 20A.02, 20A.03, 49.045, 49.05, |
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49.065, 49.07, or 49.08, Penal Code; |
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(B) under Section 49.04 or 49.06, Penal Code, |
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and, at the time of the offense: |
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(i) the defendant held a commercial |
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driver's license or a commercial learner's permit; or |
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(ii) the defendant's alcohol concentration, |
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as defined by Section 49.01, Penal Code, was 0.15 or more; |
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(C) for which punishment may be increased under |
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Section 49.09, Penal Code; |
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(D) for which punishment may be increased under |
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Section 481.134(c), (d), (e), or (f), Health and Safety Code, if it |
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is shown that the defendant has been previously convicted of an |
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offense for which punishment was increased under any one of those |
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subsections; [or] |
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(E) under Section 481.1123, Health and Safety |
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Code, that is punishable under Subsection (d), (e), or (f) of that |
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section; or |
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(F) under Section 46.025, Penal Code; |
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(2) the defendant: |
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(A) is charged with an offense under Section |
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21.11, 22.011, 22.021, 43.04, or 43.05, Penal Code, regardless of |
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the age of the victim, or a felony described by Article 42A.453(b), |
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other than a felony described by Subdivision (1)(A) or (3)(B) of |
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this subsection; and |
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(B) has previously been placed on community |
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supervision for an offense under Paragraph (A); |
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(3) the defendant is charged with an offense under: |
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(A) Section 21.02, Penal Code; or |
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(B) Section 22.021, Penal Code, that is |
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punishable under Subsection (f) of that section or under Section |
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12.42(c)(3) or (4), Penal Code; or |
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(4) the defendant is charged with an offense under |
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Section 19.02, Penal Code, except that the judge may grant deferred |
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adjudication community supervision on determining that the |
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defendant did not cause the death of the deceased, did not intend to |
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kill the deceased or another, and did not anticipate that a human |
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life would be taken. |
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SECTION 5. Section 9.31(b), Penal Code, is amended to read |
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as follows: |
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(b) The use of force against another is not justified: |
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(1) in response to verbal provocation alone; |
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(2) to resist an arrest or search that the actor knows |
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is being made by a peace officer, or by a person acting in a peace |
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officer's presence and at his direction, even though the arrest or |
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search is unlawful, unless the resistance is justified under |
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Subsection (c); |
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(3) if the actor consented to the exact force used or |
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attempted by the other; |
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(4) if the actor provoked the other's use or attempted |
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use of unlawful force, unless: |
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(A) the actor abandons the encounter, or clearly |
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communicates to the other his intent to do so reasonably believing |
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he cannot safely abandon the encounter; and |
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(B) the other nevertheless continues or attempts |
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to use unlawful force against the actor; or |
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(5) if the actor sought an explanation from or |
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discussion with the other person concerning the actor's differences |
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with the other person while the actor was: |
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(A) carrying a weapon in violation of Section |
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46.02; [or] |
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(B) carrying a firearm in violation of Section |
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46.025; or |
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(C) possessing or transporting a weapon in |
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violation of Section 46.05. |
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SECTION 6. Chapter 46, Penal Code, is amended by adding |
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Section 46.025 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 46.025. PROHIBITED CARRYING OF FIREARMS BY GANG |
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MEMBERS. (a) In this section, "criminal street gang" has the |
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meaning assigned by Section 71.01. |
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(b) A person who is a member of a criminal street gang |
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commits an offense if the person: |
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(1) intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly carries |
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on or about his or her person a firearm; and |
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(2) is engaged in conduct constituting an offense that |
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is a Class B misdemeanor or any higher category of offense: |
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(A) listed in Section 42A.054(a), Code of |
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Criminal Procedure; |
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(B) listed in Section 71.02(a) of this code; |
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(C) under Title 5 or 6 of this code; |
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(D) under Subchapter D, Chapter 481, Health and |
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Safety Code; or |
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(E) during the commission of which or during the |
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immediate flight from the commission of which the firearm or other |
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deadly weapon was used or exhibited. |
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(c) It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under this |
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section that: |
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(1) the person is not a member of a criminal street |
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gang and the inclusion of the person's information in an |
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intelligence database under Chapter 67, Code of Criminal Procedure, |
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was in error; or |
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(2) the person's information did not meet the |
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submission criteria established under Article 67.054(b), Code of |
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Criminal Procedure, for the inclusion of the person's information |
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in an intelligence database under Chapter 67 of that code. |
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(d) If conduct constituting an offense under this section |
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also constitutes an offense under Section 46.02, the actor may be |
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prosecuted only under this section. |
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(e) An offense under this section is a felony of the third |
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degree. |
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SECTION 7. Section 46.04(e), Penal Code, is amended to read |
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as follows: |
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(e) An offense under Subsection (a) is a felony of the third |
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degree. An offense under Subsection [(a-1),] (b)[,] or (c) is a |
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Class A misdemeanor. |
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SECTION 8. Section 46.15(b), Penal Code, is amended to read |
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as follows: |
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(b) Sections 46.02 and[,] 46.03(a)(14)[, and 46.04(a-1)] do |
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not apply to a person who: |
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(1) is in the actual discharge of official duties as a |
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member of the armed forces or state military forces as defined by |
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Section 437.001, Government Code, or as a guard employed by a penal |
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institution; |
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(2) is traveling; |
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(3) is engaging in lawful hunting, fishing, or other |
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sporting activity on the immediate premises where the activity is |
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conducted, or is en route between the premises and the actor's |
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residence, motor vehicle, or watercraft, if the weapon is a type |
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commonly used in the activity; |
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(4) holds a security officer commission issued by the |
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Texas Private Security Board, if the person is engaged in the |
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performance of the person's duties as an officer commissioned under |
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Chapter 1702, Occupations Code, or is traveling to or from the |
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person's place of assignment and is wearing the officer's uniform |
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and carrying the officer's weapon in plain view; |
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(5) acts as a personal protection officer and carries |
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the person's security officer commission and personal protection |
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officer authorization, if the person: |
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(A) is engaged in the performance of the person's |
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duties as a personal protection officer under Chapter 1702, |
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Occupations Code, or is traveling to or from the person's place of |
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assignment; and |
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(B) is either: |
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(i) wearing the uniform of a security |
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officer, including any uniform or apparel described by Section |
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1702.323(d), Occupations Code, and carrying the officer's weapon in |
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plain view; or |
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(ii) not wearing the uniform of a security |
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officer and carrying the officer's weapon in a concealed manner; |
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(6) is carrying: |
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(A) a license issued under Subchapter H, Chapter |
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411, Government Code, to carry a handgun; and |
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(B) a handgun: |
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(i) in a concealed manner; or |
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(ii) in a holster; |
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(7) holds an alcoholic beverage permit or license or |
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is an employee of a holder of an alcoholic beverage permit or |
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license if the person is supervising the operation of the permitted |
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or licensed premises; or |
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(8) is a student in a law enforcement class engaging in |
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an activity required as part of the class, if the weapon is a type |
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commonly used in the activity and the person is: |
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(A) on the immediate premises where the activity |
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is conducted; or |
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(B) en route between those premises and the |
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person's residence and is carrying the weapon unloaded. |
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SECTION 9. Section 46.04(a-1), Penal Code, is repealed. |
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SECTION 10. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of |
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this section, the changes in law made by this Act apply only to an |
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offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. An |
|
offense committed before the effective date of this Act is governed |
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by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed, and the |
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former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For purposes of |
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this subsection, an offense was committed before the effective date |
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of this Act if any element of the offense was committed before that |
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date. |
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(b) The change in law made by this Act in amending Article |
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17.03(b-2), Code of Criminal Procedure, applies only to a person |
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who is arrested on or after the effective date of this Act. A person |
|
arrested before the effective date of this Act is governed by the |
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law in effect on the date the person was arrested, and the former |
|
law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 11. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |