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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to criminal conduct involving a catalytic converter |
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removed from a motor vehicle; creating a criminal offense. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 31.21(b), Penal Code, is amended to read |
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as follows: |
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(b) A person is presumed to be authorized to possess a |
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catalytic converter that has been removed from a motor vehicle if |
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the person: |
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(1) is the owner, as defined by Section 601.002, |
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Transportation Code, of the vehicle from which the catalytic |
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converter was removed or is authorized by the vehicle owner to |
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possess the catalytic converter; or |
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(2) possesses the catalytic converter in the ordinary |
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course of the person's business, including in the ordinary course |
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of business of an entity described by Section 1956.123(1), |
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Occupations Code. |
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SECTION 2. Chapter 1956, Occupations Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter C-2 to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER C-2. RESTRICTION ON SALE OF CATALYTIC CONVERTER REMOVED |
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FROM MOTOR VEHICLE TO CERTAIN PERSONS |
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Sec. 1956.130. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "motor |
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vehicle" has the meaning assigned by Section 541.201, |
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Transportation Code. |
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Sec. 1956.131. APPLICABILITY. Notwithstanding any other |
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provision of this chapter, this subchapter applies to the sale by |
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any person, including a person described by Section 1956.002(1), of |
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a catalytic converter removed from a motor vehicle to any other |
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person. |
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Sec. 1956.132. OFFENSE: SALE OF CATALYTIC CONVERTER REMOVED |
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FROM MOTOR VEHICLE TO PERSON OTHER THAN METAL RECYCLING ENTITY. (a) |
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A person commits an offense if the person sells a catalytic |
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converter removed from a motor vehicle to a person who is not a |
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metal recycling entity registered under this chapter. |
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(b) An offense under this section is a state jail felony. |
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(c) If conduct constituting an offense under this section |
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also constitutes an offense under another law, the actor may be |
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prosecuted under this section, the other law, or both. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |