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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the prosecution of the offense of terroristic threat. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 22.07(a), Penal Code, is amended to read |
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as follows: |
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(a) A person commits an offense if the person [he] threatens |
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to commit any offense involving violence to any person or property |
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with intent to: |
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(1) cause a reaction of any type to the [his] threat by |
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an official or volunteer agency organized to deal with emergencies; |
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(2) place any person in fear of imminent serious |
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bodily injury; |
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(3) prevent or interrupt the occupation or use of a |
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building, room, place of assembly, place to which the public has |
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access, place of employment or occupation, aircraft, automobile, or |
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other form of conveyance, or other public place; |
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(4) cause impairment or interruption of public |
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communications, public transportation, public water, gas, or power |
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supply or other public service; |
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(5) place the public or a substantial group of the |
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public in fear of serious bodily injury; or |
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(6) influence the conduct or activities of: |
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(A) a branch or agency of the federal government, |
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the state, or a political subdivision of the state; |
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(B) a child-care facility; |
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(C) a public or private primary or secondary |
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school; or |
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(D) an institution of higher education or a |
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private or independent institution of higher education. |
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SECTION 2. Section 22.07(f), Penal Code, is amended by |
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amending Subdivision (1) and adding Subdivisions (1-a) and (4) to |
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read as follows: |
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(1) "Child-care facility" has the meaning assigned by |
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Section 42.002, Human Resources Code. |
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(1-a) "Family" has the meaning assigned by Section |
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71.003, Family Code. |
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(4) "Institution of higher education" and "private or |
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independent institution of higher education" have the meanings |
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assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code. |
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SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. |
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An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is |
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governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed, |
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and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For |
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purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the |
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effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred |
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before that date. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |