By: Hughes, Kolkhorst  S.B. No. 12
         (In the Senate - Filed March 10, 2023; March 13, 2023, read
  first time and referred to Committee on State Affairs;
  March 30, 2023, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
  Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 8, Nays 2; March 30, 2023,
  sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
  COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 12 By:  Paxton
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to restricting certain sexually oriented performances on
  public property, on the premises of a commercial enterprise, or in
  the presence of a child; authorizing a civil penalty; creating a
  criminal offense.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subtitle A, Title 9, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended by adding Chapter 769 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 769. SEXUALLY ORIENTED PERFORMANCES
         Sec. 769.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
               (1)  "Premises" has the meaning assigned by Section
  46.03, Penal Code.
               (2)  "Sexually oriented performance" has the meaning
  assigned by Section 43.28, Penal Code.
         Sec. 769.002.  CERTAIN SEXUALLY ORIENTED PERFORMANCES
  PROHIBITED ON PREMISES OF COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISE; CIVIL PENALTY;
  INJUNCTION. (a) A person who controls the premises of a commercial
  enterprise may not allow a sexually oriented performance to be
  presented on the premises in the presence of an individual younger
  than 18 years of age.
         (b)  A person who violates this section is liable to this
  state for a civil penalty of not more than $10,000 for each
  violation.
         (c)  The attorney general may bring an action to:
               (1)  recover the civil penalty imposed under this
  section; or
               (2)  obtain a temporary or permanent injunction to
  restrain the violation.
         (d)  An action under this section may be brought in a
  district court in:
               (1)  Travis County; or
               (2)  a county in which any part of the violation occurs.
         (e)  The attorney general shall deposit a civil penalty
  collected under this section in the state treasury to the credit of
  the general revenue fund.
         (f)  The attorney general may recover reasonable expenses
  incurred in bringing an action under this section, including court
  costs, attorney's fees, investigative costs, witness fees, and
  deposition expenses.
         SECTION 2.  Chapter 243, Local Government Code, is amended
  by adding Section 243.0031 to read as follows:
         Sec. 243.0031.  AUTHORITY TO REGULATE CERTAIN SEXUALLY
  ORIENTED PERFORMANCES. (a) In this section, "sexually oriented
  performance" has the meaning assigned by Section 43.28, Penal Code.
         (b)  Subject to Subsection (c), a municipality or county may
  regulate sexually oriented performances as the municipality or
  county considers necessary to promote the public health, safety, or
  welfare.
         (c)  A municipality or county may not authorize a sexually
  oriented performance:
               (1)  on public property; or
               (2)  in the presence of an individual younger than 18
  years of age.
         (d)  Except as provided by Subsection (c), this section does
  not limit the authority of a municipality to license, tax,
  suppress, prevent, or otherwise regulate theatrical or other
  exhibitions, shows, or amusements under Section 215.032.
         SECTION 3.  Subchapter B, Chapter 43, Penal Code, is amended
  by adding Section 43.28 to read as follows:
         Sec. 43.28.  CERTAIN SEXUALLY ORIENTED PERFORMANCES
  PROHIBITED. (a) In this section, "sexually oriented performance"
  means a visual performance that:
               (1)  features:
                     (A)  a performer who is nude, as defined by
  Section 102.051, Business & Commerce Code; or 
                     (B)  a male performer exhibiting as a female, or a
  female performer exhibiting as a male, who uses clothing, makeup,
  or other similar physical markers and who sings, lip syncs, dances,
  or otherwise performs before an audience; and
               (2)  appeals to the prurient interest in sex.
         (b)  A person commits an offense if, regardless of whether
  compensation for the performance is expected or received, the
  person engages in a sexually oriented performance:
               (1)  on public property; or
               (2)  in the presence of an individual younger than 18
  years of age.
         (c)  An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.
         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 severable.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
 
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