89R5480 EAS-D

By: Capriglione H.B. No. 2430

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to prohibiting sex offenders from residing or loitering within a certain distance of certain locations where children commonly gather and from participating in certain Halloween activities; creating a criminal offense.

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

SECTION 1. Article 62.053(a), Code of Criminal Procedure, is amended to read as follows:

(a) Before a person who will be subject to registration under this chapter is due to be released from a penal institution, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice or the Texas Juvenile Justice Department shall determine the person's level of risk to the community using the sex offender screening tool developed or selected under Article 62.007 and assign to the person a numeric risk level of one, two, or three. Before releasing the person, an official of the penal institution shall:

(1) inform the person that:

(A) not later than the later of the seventh day after the date on which the person is released or after the date on which the person moves from a previous residence to a new residence in this state or not later than the first date the applicable local law enforcement authority by policy allows the person to register or verify registration, the person must register or verify registration with the local law enforcement authority in the municipality or county in which the person intends to reside;

(B) not later than the seventh day after the date on which the person is released or the date on which the person moves from a previous residence to a new residence in this state, the person must, if the person has not moved to an intended residence, report to the applicable entity or entities as required by Article 62.051(h) or (j) or 62.055(e);

(C) not later than the seventh day before the date on which the person moves to a new residence in this state or another state, the person must report in person to the local law enforcement authority designated as the person's primary registration authority by the department and to the juvenile probation officer, community supervision and corrections department officer, or parole officer supervising the person;

(D) not later than the 10th day after the date on which the person arrives in another state in which the person intends to reside, the person must register with the law enforcement agency that is identified by the department as the agency designated by that state to receive registration information, if the other state has a registration requirement for sex offenders;

(E) not later than the 30th day after the date on which the person is released, the person must apply to the department in person for the issuance of an original or renewal driver's license or personal identification certificate and a failure to apply to the department as required by this paragraph results in the automatic revocation of any driver's license or personal identification certificate issued by the department to the person;

(F) the person must notify appropriate entities of any change in status as described by Article 62.057;

(G) certain types of employment are prohibited under Article 62.063 for a person with a reportable conviction or adjudication for a sexually violent offense involving a victim younger than 14 years of age and occurring on or after September 1, 2013;

(H) certain locations of residence are prohibited under Article 62.064 for a person with a reportable conviction or adjudication for an offense occurring on or after September 1, 2017, except as otherwise provided by that article; [and]

(I) if the person enters the premises of a school as described by Article 62.065 and is subject to the requirements of that article, the person must immediately notify the administrative office of the school of the person's presence and the person's registration status under this chapter;

(J) the person may not reside within 2,000 feet of or loiter within 500 feet of certain locations as provided by Article 62.066; and

(K) the person may not engage in certain activities on Halloween as provided by Article 62.067;

(2) require the person to sign a written statement that the person was informed of the person's duties as described by Subdivision (1) or Subsection (g) or, if the person refuses to sign the statement, certify that the person was so informed;

(3) obtain the address or, if applicable, a detailed description of each geographical location where the person expects to reside on the person's release and other registration information, including a photograph and complete set of fingerprints; and

(4) complete the registration form for the person.

SECTION 2. Article 62.058, Code of Criminal Procedure, is amended by adding Subsection (i) to read as follows:

(i) A local law enforcement authority that provides to a person a registration form for verification as required by this chapter shall include with the form a statement describing the prohibitions under Articles 62.066 and 62.067.

SECTION 3. Subchapter B, Chapter 62, Code of Criminal Procedure, is amended by adding Articles 62.066 and 62.067 to read as follows:

Art. 62.066. PROHIBITED LOCATIONS FOR RESIDENCE OR LOITERING. (a) This article applies to the following locations where children commonly gather:

(1) a school as defined by Section 481.134, Health and Safety Code;

(2) a playground as defined by Section 481.134, Health and Safety Code;

(3) a youth center as defined by Section 481.134, Health and Safety Code;

(4) a public swimming pool or child water play area;

(5) a video arcade facility as defined by Section 481.134, Health and Safety Code;

(6) a movie theatre;

(7) a public or private park;

(8) a public or private recreational facility;

(9) a library;

(10) an athletic field;

(11) a jogging or hiking trail;

(12) a bicycle trail; and

(13) an equestrian trail.

(b) A person subject to registration under this chapter based on a reportable conviction or adjudication for an offense occurring on or after September 1, 2025, may not reside within 2,000 feet of a location to which this article applies.

(c) A person subject to registration under this chapter may not knowingly remain in essentially one location for more than 10 minutes for no apparent lawful purpose if that location is within 500 feet of a location to which this article applies.

(d) A person commits an offense if the person violates this article. An offense under this subsection is a Class B misdemeanor, except that the offense is a Class A misdemeanor if it is shown on the trial of the offense that the defendant has been previously convicted of an offense under this article.

Art. 62.067. LIMITATION ON PARTICIPATION IN CERTAIN HALLOWEEN ACTIVITIES. (a) A person subject to registration under this chapter may not, on the date on which Halloween is observed:

(1) leave on any exterior lights at the person's residence during the period beginning at 5 p.m. and ending at 11:59 p.m.; or

(2) hand out or offer any type of Halloween treat, candy, or other edible product to children.

(b) A person commits an offense if the person violates this article. An offense under this subsection is a Class B misdemeanor, except that the offense is a Class A misdemeanor if it is shown on the trial of the offense that the defendant has been previously convicted of an offense under this article.

SECTION 4. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this section, the changes in law made by this Act to Chapter 62, Code of Criminal Procedure, apply to a person who is subject to registration under Chapter 62, Code of Criminal Procedure, on or after the effective date of this Act, regardless of whether the applicable offense or conduct occurs before, on, or after the effective date of this Act.

(b) Article 62.066(b), Code of Criminal Procedure, as added by this Act, applies only to a person subject to registration under this chapter based on a reportable conviction or adjudication for an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. For purposes of this subsection, an offense was committed before the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred before that date.

SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.