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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the criminal offense of interference with child |
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custody. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 25.03(b) and (d), Penal Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) A [noncustodial] parent commits an offense if, with the |
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intent to interfere with the lawful custody of a child younger than |
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18 years, the [noncustodial] parent knowingly entices or persuades |
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the child to leave the custody of: |
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(1) the other [the custodial] parent or a[,] guardian |
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of the child;[,] or |
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(2) a person standing in the stead of the [custodial] |
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parent or guardian of the child described by Subdivision (1). |
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(d) An offense under Subsection (a) [this section] is a |
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state jail felony. An offense under Subsection (b) is a Class C |
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misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $500, except that the offense is |
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a state jail felony if it is shown on the trial of the offense that |
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the defendant: |
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(1) has previously been convicted two or more times of |
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an offense under that subsection; or |
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(2) enticed or persuaded the child to leave the state. |
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SECTION 2. 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 |
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Act. 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 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
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* * * * * |