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AN ACT
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relating to the prosecution and punishment of offenses related to |
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trafficking of persons and to certain protections for victims of |
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trafficking of persons. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. The heading to Chapter 7A, Code of Criminal |
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Procedure, is amended to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 7A. PROTECTIVE ORDER FOR [CERTAIN] VICTIMS OF [TRAFFICKING
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OR] SEXUAL ASSAULT OR ABUSE, STALKING, OR TRAFFICKING |
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SECTION 2. Article 7A.01(a), Code of Criminal Procedure, as |
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amended by Chapters 1 (S.B. 24) and 135 (S.B. 250), Acts of the 82nd |
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Legislature, Regular Session, 2011, is reenacted and amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) The following persons may file an application for a |
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protective order under this chapter without regard to the |
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relationship between the applicant and the alleged offender: |
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(1) a person who is the victim of an offense under |
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Section 21.02, 21.11, 22.011, 22.021, or 42.072, Penal Code; |
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(2) a person who is the victim of an offense under |
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Section 20A.02 [20A.02(a)(3), (4), (7), or (8)] or [Section] 43.05, |
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Penal Code; |
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(3) a parent or guardian acting on behalf of a person |
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younger than 17 [18] years of age who is the victim of an offense |
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listed in Subdivision (1); |
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(4) a parent or guardian acting on behalf of a person |
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younger than 18 years of age who is the victim of an offense listed |
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in Subdivision [or] (2); or |
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(5) [(4)] a prosecuting attorney acting on behalf of a |
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person described by Subdivision (1) or (2). |
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SECTION 3. Article 7A.02, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Art. 7A.02. TEMPORARY EX PARTE ORDER. If the court finds |
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from the information contained in an application for a protective |
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order that there is a clear and present danger of sexual assault or |
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abuse, stalking, trafficking, or other harm to the applicant, the |
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court, without further notice to the alleged offender and without a |
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hearing, may enter a temporary ex parte order for the protection of |
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the applicant or any other member of the applicant's family or |
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household. |
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SECTION 4. Article 7A.03, Code of Criminal Procedure, as |
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amended by Chapters 135 (S.B. 250) and 238 (H.B. 649), Acts of the |
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82nd Legislature, Regular Session, 2011, is reenacted and amended |
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to read as follows: |
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Art. 7A.03. REQUIRED FINDINGS; ISSUANCE OF PROTECTIVE |
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ORDER. (a) At the close of a hearing on an application for a |
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protective order under this chapter, the court shall find whether |
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there are reasonable grounds to believe that the applicant is the |
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victim of sexual assault or abuse,[; or] stalking, or trafficking. |
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(b) If the court makes a finding described by Subsection (a) |
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[(a)(1) or (2)], the court shall issue a protective order that |
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includes a statement of the required findings. |
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SECTION 5. Article 7A.07(b), Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) The following persons may file at any time an |
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application with the court to rescind the protective order: |
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(1) a victim of an offense listed in Article |
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7A.01(a)(1) [A victim] who is 17 years of age or older or a parent or |
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guardian acting on behalf of a victim who is younger than 17 years |
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of age; or |
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(2) a victim of an offense listed in Article |
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7A.01(a)(2) or a parent or guardian acting on behalf of a victim who |
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is younger than 18 years of age [may file at any time an application
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with the court to rescind the protective order]. |
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SECTION 6. Section 4(d), Article 42.12, Code of Criminal |
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Procedure, is amended to read as follows: |
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(d) A defendant is not eligible for community supervision |
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under this section if the defendant: |
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(1) is sentenced to a term of imprisonment that |
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exceeds 10 years; |
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(2) is convicted of a state jail felony for which |
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suspension of the imposition of the sentence occurs automatically |
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under Section 15(a); |
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(3) does not file a sworn motion under Subsection (e) |
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of this section or for whom the jury does not enter in the verdict a |
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finding that the information contained in the motion is true; |
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(4) is convicted of an offense for which punishment is |
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increased under Section 481.134(c), (d), (e), or (f), Health and |
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Safety Code, if it is shown that the defendant has been previously |
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convicted of an offense for which punishment was increased under |
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any one of those subsections; |
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(5) is convicted of an offense listed in Section |
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3g(a)(1)(C), (E), or (H), if the victim of the offense was younger |
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than 14 years of age at the time the offense was committed; |
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(6) is convicted of an offense listed in Section |
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3g(a)(1)(D), if the victim of the offense was younger than 14 years |
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of age at the time the offense was committed and the actor committed |
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the offense with the intent to violate or abuse the victim sexually; |
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(7) is convicted of an offense listed in Section |
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3g(a)(1)(J), (L), or (M); or |
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(8) is adjudged guilty of an offense under Section |
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19.02, Penal Code. |
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SECTION 7. Chapter 48, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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amended by adding Article 48.06 to read as follows: |
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Art. 48.06. EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS CONCERNING PARDONS FOR |
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CERTAIN VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING OF PERSONS. (a) The Board of |
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Pardons and Paroles shall develop educational materials |
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specifically for persons convicted of or placed on deferred |
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adjudication community supervision for an offense the person |
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committed solely as a victim of trafficking of persons under |
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Section 20A.02, Penal Code. The board shall include in the |
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educational materials a detailed description of the process by |
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which the person may submit a request to the board for a written |
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signed recommendation advising the governor to grant the person a |
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pardon. |
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(b) The Board of Pardons and Paroles shall post educational |
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materials described by Subsection (a) on the board's Internet |
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website. |
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SECTION 8. Article 56.32(a), Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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amended by adding Subdivision (14) to read as follows: |
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(14) "Trafficking of persons" means any offense that |
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results in a person engaging in forced labor or services and that |
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may be prosecuted under Section 20A.02, 20A.03, 43.03, 43.04, |
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43.05, 43.25, 43.251, or 43.26, Penal Code. |
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SECTION 9. Article 56.42(d), Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(d) A victim who is a victim of family violence, a victim of |
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trafficking of persons, or a victim of sexual assault who is |
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assaulted in the victim's place of residence may receive a |
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onetime-only assistance payment in an amount not to exceed: |
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(1) $2,000 to be used for relocation expenses, |
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including expenses for rental deposit, utility connections, |
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expenses relating to the moving of belongings, motor vehicle |
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mileage expenses, and for out-of-state moves, transportation, |
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lodging, and meals; and |
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(2) $1,800 to be used for housing rental expenses. |
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SECTION 10. Article 56.81, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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amended by adding Subdivision (7) to read as follows: |
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(7) "Trafficking of persons" means any offense that |
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may be prosecuted under Section 20A.02, 20A.03, 43.03, 43.04, |
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43.05, 43.25, 43.251, or 43.26, Penal Code, and that results in a |
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person: |
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(A) engaging in forced labor or services; or |
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(B) otherwise becoming a victim of the offense. |
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SECTION 11. Article 56.82(a), Code of Criminal Procedure, |
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is amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The attorney general shall establish an address |
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confidentiality program, as provided by this subchapter, to assist |
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a victim of family violence, trafficking of persons, or an offense |
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under Section 22.011, 22.021, 25.02, or 42.072, Penal Code, in |
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maintaining a confidential address. |
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SECTION 12. Articles 56.83(a), (b), and (e), Code of |
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Criminal Procedure, are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) To be eligible to participate in the program, an |
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applicant must: |
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(1) meet with a victim's assistance counselor from a |
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state or local agency or other entity, whether for-profit or |
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nonprofit that is identified by the attorney general as an entity |
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that provides counseling and shelter services to victims of family |
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violence, trafficking of persons, or an offense under Section |
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22.011, 22.021, 25.02, or 42.072, Penal Code; |
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(2) file an application for participation with the |
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attorney general or a state or local agency or other entity |
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identified by the attorney general under Subdivision (1); |
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(3) designate the attorney general as agent to receive |
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service of process and mail on behalf of the applicant; and |
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(4) live at a residential address, or relocate to a |
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residential address, that is unknown to the person who committed or |
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is alleged to have committed the family violence, trafficking of |
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persons, or an offense under Section 22.011, 22.021, 25.02, or |
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42.072, Penal Code. |
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(b) An application under Subsection (a)(2) must contain: |
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(1) a signed, sworn statement by the applicant stating |
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that the applicant fears for the safety of the applicant, the |
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applicant's child, or another person in the applicant's household |
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because of a threat of immediate or future harm caused by the person |
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who committed or is alleged to have committed the family violence, |
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the trafficking of persons, or an offense under Section 22.011, |
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22.021, 25.02, or 42.072, Penal Code; |
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(2) the applicant's true residential address and, if |
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applicable, the applicant's business and school addresses; and |
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(3) a statement by the applicant of whether there is an |
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existing court order or a pending court case for child support or |
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child custody or visitation that involves the applicant and, if so, |
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the name and address of: |
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(A) the legal counsel of record; and |
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(B) each parent involved in the court order or |
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pending case. |
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(e) The attorney general by rule may establish additional |
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eligibility requirements for participation in the program that are |
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consistent with the purpose of the program as stated in Article |
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56.82(a). The attorney general may establish procedures for |
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requiring an applicant, in appropriate circumstances, to submit |
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with the application under Subsection (a)(2) independent |
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documentary evidence of family violence, trafficking of persons, or |
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an offense under Section 22.011, 22.021, 25.02, or 42.072, Penal |
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Code, in the form of: |
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(1) an active or recently issued protective order; |
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(2) an incident report or other record maintained by a |
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law enforcement agency or official; |
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(3) a statement of a physician or other health care |
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provider regarding the applicant's medical condition as a result of |
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the family violence, trafficking of persons, or offense; or |
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(4) a statement of a mental health professional, a |
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member of the clergy, an attorney or other legal advocate, a trained |
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staff member of a family violence center, or another professional |
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who has assisted the applicant in addressing the effects of the |
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family violence, trafficking of persons, or offense. |
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SECTION 13. Section 508.145(d)(1), Government Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(1) An inmate serving a sentence for an offense |
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described by Section 3g(a)(1)(A), (C), (D), (E), (F), (G), (H), |
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(I), (J), [or] (K), (L), or (M), Article 42.12, Code of Criminal |
|
Procedure, [or for] an offense for which the judgment contains an |
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affirmative finding under Section 3g(a)(2) of that article, or |
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[for] an offense under Section 20A.03, Penal Code, is not eligible |
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for release on parole until the inmate's actual calendar time |
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served, without consideration of good conduct time, equals one-half |
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of the sentence or 30 calendar years, whichever is less, but in no |
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event is the inmate eligible for release on parole in less than two |
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calendar years. |
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SECTION 14. The heading to Section 38.112, Penal Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 38.112. VIOLATION OF PROTECTIVE ORDER ISSUED ON BASIS |
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OF SEXUAL ASSAULT OR ABUSE, STALKING, OR TRAFFICKING. |
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SECTION 15. Section 43.02, Penal Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsections (a), (b), and (c) and adding Subsection (e) to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) A person commits an offense if the person [he] |
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knowingly: |
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(1) offers to engage, agrees to engage, or engages in |
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sexual conduct for a fee; or |
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(2) solicits another in a public place to engage with |
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the person [him] in sexual conduct for hire. |
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(b) An offense is established under Subsection (a)(1) |
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whether the actor is to receive or pay a fee. An offense is |
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established under Subsection (a)(2) whether the actor solicits a |
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person to hire the actor [him] or offers to hire the person |
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solicited. |
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(c) An offense under this section is a Class B misdemeanor, |
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except that the offense is: |
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(1) a Class A misdemeanor if the actor has previously |
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been convicted one or two times of an offense under this section; |
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(2) a state jail felony if the actor has previously |
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been convicted three or more times of an offense under this section; |
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or |
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(3) [a felony of the third degree if the person
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solicited is 14 years of age or older and younger than 18 years of
|
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age; or
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[(4)] a felony of the second degree if the person |
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solicited is younger than 18 [14] years of age, regardless of |
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whether the actor knows the age of the person solicited at the time |
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the actor commits the offense. |
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(e) A conviction may be used for purposes of enhancement |
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under this section or enhancement under Subchapter D, Chapter 12, |
|
but not under both this section and Subchapter D, Chapter 12. For |
|
purposes of enhancement of penalties under this section or |
|
Subchapter D, Chapter 12, a defendant is previously convicted of an |
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offense under this section if the defendant was adjudged guilty of |
|
the offense or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere in return |
|
for a grant of deferred adjudication, regardless of whether the |
|
sentence for the offense was ever imposed or whether the sentence |
|
was probated and the defendant was subsequently discharged from |
|
community supervision. |
|
SECTION 16. Section 43.03(b), Penal Code, is amended to |
|
read as follows: |
|
(b) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor, |
|
except that the offense is: |
|
(1) a state jail felony if the actor has been |
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previously convicted of an offense under this section; or |
|
(2) a felony of the second degree if the actor engages |
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in conduct described by Subsection (a)(1) or (2) involving a person |
|
younger than 18 years of age engaging in prostitution, regardless |
|
of whether the actor knows the age of the person at the time the |
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actor commits the offense. |
|
SECTION 17. Section 43.04(b), Penal Code, is amended to |
|
read as follows: |
|
(b) An offense under this section is a felony of the third |
|
degree, except that the offense is a felony of the first degree if |
|
the prostitution enterprise uses as a prostitute one or more |
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persons younger than 18 years of age, regardless of whether the |
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actor knows the age of the person at the time the actor commits the |
|
offense. |
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SECTION 18. Section 43.251(c), Penal Code, as amended by |
|
Chapters 515 (H.B. 2014) and 938 (H.B. 290), Acts of the 82nd |
|
Legislature, Regular Session, 2011, is reenacted and amended to |
|
read as follows: |
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(c) An offense under this section is a felony of the second |
|
degree, except that the offense is a felony of the first degree if |
|
the child is younger than 14 years of age at the time the offense is |
|
committed. |
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[(1)
a state jail felony if it is shown on the trial of
|
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the offense that the defendant has been previously convicted one
|
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time of an offense under this section; and
|
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[(2)
a felony of the third degree if it is shown on the
|
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trial of the offense that the defendant has been previously
|
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convicted two or more times of an offense under this section.] |
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SECTION 19. Section 43.23(h), Penal Code, is amended to |
|
read as follows: |
|
(h) The punishment for an offense under Subsection (a) or |
|
[is increased to the punishment for a felony of the third degree and
|
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the punishment for an offense under Subsection] (c) is increased to |
|
the punishment for a [state jail] felony of the second degree if it |
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is shown on the trial of the offense that obscene material that is |
|
the subject of the offense visually depicts activities described by |
|
Section 43.21(a)(1)(B) engaged in by: |
|
(1) a child younger than 18 years of age at the time |
|
the image of the child was made; |
|
(2) an image that to a reasonable person would be |
|
virtually indistinguishable from the image of a child younger than |
|
18 years of age; or |
|
(3) an image created, adapted, or modified to be the |
|
image of an identifiable child. |
|
SECTION 20. Sections 43.26(a) and (h), Penal Code, are |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) A person commits an offense if: |
|
(1) the person knowingly or intentionally possesses, |
|
or knowingly or intentionally accesses with intent to view, visual |
|
material that visually depicts a child younger than 18 years of age |
|
at the time the image of the child was made who is engaging in sexual |
|
conduct, including a child who engages in sexual conduct as a victim |
|
of an offense under Section 20A.02(a)(5), (6), (7), or (8); and |
|
(2) the person knows that the material depicts the |
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child as described by Subdivision (1). |
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(h) It is a defense to prosecution under Subsection (a) or |
|
(e) that the actor is a law enforcement officer or a school |
|
administrator who: |
|
(1) possessed or accessed the visual material in good |
|
faith solely as a result of an allegation of a violation of Section |
|
43.261; |
|
(2) allowed other law enforcement or school |
|
administrative personnel to possess or access the material only as |
|
appropriate based on the allegation described by Subdivision (1); |
|
and |
|
(3) took reasonable steps to destroy the material |
|
within an appropriate period following the allegation described by |
|
Subdivision (1). |
|
SECTION 21. Section 71.02(a), Penal Code, as amended by |
|
Chapters 68 (S.B. 934) and 223 (H.B. 260), Acts of the 82nd |
|
Legislature, Regular Session, 2011, is reenacted and amended to |
|
read as follows: |
|
(a) A person commits an offense if, with the intent to |
|
establish, maintain, or participate in a combination or in the |
|
profits of a combination or as a member of a criminal street gang, |
|
the person commits or conspires to commit one or more of the |
|
following: |
|
(1) murder, capital murder, arson, aggravated |
|
robbery, robbery, burglary, theft, aggravated kidnapping, |
|
kidnapping, aggravated assault, aggravated sexual assault, sexual |
|
assault, continuous sexual abuse of young child or children, |
|
solicitation of a minor, forgery, deadly conduct, assault |
|
punishable as a Class A misdemeanor, burglary of a motor vehicle, or |
|
unauthorized use of a motor vehicle; |
|
(2) any gambling offense punishable as a Class A |
|
misdemeanor; |
|
(3) promotion of prostitution, aggravated promotion |
|
of prostitution, or compelling prostitution; |
|
(4) unlawful manufacture, transportation, repair, or |
|
sale of firearms or prohibited weapons; |
|
(5) unlawful manufacture, delivery, dispensation, or |
|
distribution of a controlled substance or dangerous drug, or |
|
unlawful possession of a controlled substance or dangerous drug |
|
through forgery, fraud, misrepresentation, or deception; |
|
(5-a) causing the unlawful delivery, dispensation, or |
|
distribution of a controlled substance or dangerous drug in |
|
violation of Subtitle B, Title 3, Occupations Code; |
|
(6) any unlawful wholesale promotion or possession of |
|
any obscene material or obscene device with the intent to wholesale |
|
promote the same; |
|
(7) any offense under Subchapter B, Chapter 43, |
|
depicting or involving conduct by or directed toward a child |
|
younger than 18 years of age; |
|
(8) any felony offense under Chapter 32; |
|
(9) any offense under Chapter 36; |
|
(10) any offense under Chapter 34, 35, or 35A; |
|
(11) any offense under Section 37.11(a); |
|
(12) any offense under Chapter 20A; |
|
(13) any offense under Section 37.10; |
|
(14) any offense under Section 38.06, 38.07, 38.09, or |
|
38.11; |
|
(15) any offense under Section 42.10; |
|
(16) any offense under Section 46.06(a)(1) or 46.14; |
|
[or] |
|
(17) any offense under Section 20.05; or |
|
(18) [(17)] any offense classified as a felony under |
|
the Tax Code. |
|
SECTION 22. Chapter 7B, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
|
repealed. |
|
SECTION 23. (a) The changes in law made by this Act in |
|
amending Chapter 7A, Code of Criminal Procedure, and repealing |
|
Chapter 7B, Code of Criminal Procedure, apply only to a protective |
|
order issued on or after the effective date of this Act. A |
|
protective order issued before the effective date of this Act is |
|
governed by the law in effect on the date the order is issued, and |
|
the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
|
(b) The changes in law made by this Act apply only to an |
|
offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. An |
|
offense committed before the effective date of this Act is governed |
|
by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed, and the |
|
former law is continued in effect for that purpose. 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 24. The Board of Pardons and Paroles not later than |
|
October 1, 2013, shall post on its Internet website the educational |
|
materials described by Article 48.06(a), Code of Criminal |
|
Procedure, as added by this Act. |
|
SECTION 25. The change in law made by this Act to Section |
|
43.26, Penal Code, applies only to an offense committed on or after |
|
the effective date of this Act. An offense committed before the |
|
effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the |
|
date the offense was committed, and the former law is continued in |
|
effect for that purpose. For purposes of this section, an offense |
|
was committed before the effective date of this Act if any element |
|
of the offense occurred before that date. |
|
SECTION 26. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |
|
|
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
|
President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
|
|
|
I certify that H.B. No. 8 was passed by the House on April 17, |
|
2013, by the following vote: Yeas 147, Nays 0, 1 present, not |
|
voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. |
|
No. 8 on May 23, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 146, Nays 0, 2 |
|
present, not voting. |
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
Chief Clerk of the House |
|
|
I certify that H.B. No. 8 was passed by the Senate, with |
|
amendments, on May 21, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays |
|
0. |
|
|
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______________________________ |
|
Secretary of the Senate |
|
APPROVED: __________________ |
|
Date |
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|
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__________________ |
|
Governor |