88R2753 MM-D
 
  By: Rosenthal H.B. No. 4480
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the prosecution and punishment of a criminal offense
  relating to making false statements or reports of child abuse or
  neglect.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 261.107(a), Family Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (a)  A person commits an offense if, with the intent to
  deceive, the person knowingly makes a report as provided in this
  chapter that is false.  An offense under this subsection is:
               (1)  a state jail felony; or
               (2)  [unless it is shown on the trial of the offense
  that the person has previously been convicted under this section,
  in which case the offense is] a felony of the third degree if it is
  shown on the trial of the offense that the person:
                     (A)  has previously been convicted under this
  section; or
                     (B)  committed the offense because of bias or
  prejudice as described by Article 42.014, Code of Criminal
  Procedure.
         SECTION 2.  Section 261.107(a), Family Code, as amended 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.