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|
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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
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AN ACT
|
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relating to decreasing the punishment for certain criminal |
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offenses. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
SECTION 1. Section 502.001(c), Business & Commerce Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(c) A restaurant or bar owner shall display in a prominent |
|
place on the premises of the restaurant or bar a sign stating in |
|
letters at least one-half inch high: "UNDER SECTION 32.51, PENAL |
|
CODE, IT IS A CLASS A MISDEMEANOR [STATE JAIL FELONY] (PUNISHABLE BY |
|
CONFINEMENT IN [A STATE] JAIL FOR NOT MORE THAN ONE YEAR) [TWO
|
|
YEARS)] TO OBTAIN, POSSESS, TRANSFER, OR USE A CUSTOMER'S DEBIT |
|
CARD OR CREDIT CARD NUMBER WITHOUT THE CUSTOMER'S CONSENT." |
|
SECTION 2. Article 14.06(d), Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(d) Subsection (c) applies only to a person charged with |
|
committing an offense under: |
|
(1) Section 481.121, Health and Safety Code, if the |
|
offense is punishable under Subsection (b)(2) or (3) [(b)(1) or
|
|
(2)] of that section; |
|
(1-a) Section 481.1161, Health and Safety Code, if the |
|
offense is punishable under Subsection (b)(1) or (2) of that |
|
section; |
|
(2) Section 28.03, Penal Code, if the offense is |
|
punishable under Subsection (b)(2) of that section; |
|
(3) Section 28.08, Penal Code, if the offense is |
|
punishable under Subsection (b)(2) [(b)(1)] of that section; |
|
(4) Section 31.03, Penal Code, if the offense is |
|
punishable under Subsection (e)(2)(A) of that section; |
|
(5) Section 31.04, Penal Code, if the offense is |
|
punishable under Subsection (e)(2) of that section; |
|
(6) Section 38.114, Penal Code, if the offense is |
|
punishable as a Class B misdemeanor; or |
|
(7) Section 521.457, Transportation Code. |
|
SECTION 3. Section 15(a)(1), Article 42.12, Code of |
|
Criminal Procedure, is amended to read as follows: |
|
(1) On conviction of a state jail felony under Section |
|
481.115(b-1) [481.115(b)], 481.1151(b)(1), 481.116(b), |
|
481.1161(b)(3), 481.121(b)(4) [481.121(b)(3)], or 481.129(g)(1), |
|
Health and Safety Code, that is punished under Section 12.35(a), |
|
Penal Code, the judge shall suspend the imposition of the sentence |
|
and place the defendant on community supervision, unless the |
|
defendant has previously been convicted of a felony, other than a |
|
felony punished under Section 12.44(a), Penal Code, or unless the |
|
conviction resulted from an adjudication of the guilt of a |
|
defendant previously placed on deferred adjudication community |
|
supervision for the offense, in which event the judge may suspend |
|
the imposition of the sentence and place the defendant on community |
|
supervision or may order the sentence to be executed. The |
|
provisions of this subdivision requiring the judge to suspend the |
|
imposition of the sentence and place the defendant on community |
|
supervision do not apply to a defendant who: |
|
(A) under Section 481.1151(b)(1), Health and |
|
Safety Code, possessed more than five abuse units of the controlled |
|
substance; |
|
(B) under Section 481.1161(b)(3), Health and |
|
Safety Code, possessed more than one pound, by aggregate weight, |
|
including adulterants or dilutants, of the controlled substance; or |
|
(C) under Section 481.121(b)(4) [481.121(b)(3)], |
|
Health and Safety Code, possessed more than one pound of marihuana. |
|
SECTION 4. Section 51.03(b), Family Code, is amended to |
|
read as follows: |
|
(b) Conduct indicating a need for supervision is: |
|
(1) subject to Subsection (f), conduct, other than a |
|
traffic offense, that violates: |
|
(A) the penal laws of this state of the grade of |
|
misdemeanor that are punishable by fine only; or |
|
(B) the penal ordinances of any political |
|
subdivision of this state; |
|
(2) the absence of a child on 10 or more days or parts |
|
of days within a six-month period in the same school year or on |
|
three or more days or parts of days within a four-week period from |
|
school; |
|
(3) the voluntary absence of a child from the child's |
|
home without the consent of the child's parent or guardian for a |
|
substantial length of time or without intent to return; |
|
(4) conduct prohibited by city ordinance or by state |
|
law involving the inhalation of the fumes or vapors of paint and |
|
other protective coatings or glue and other adhesives and the |
|
volatile chemicals itemized in Section 485.001, Health and Safety |
|
Code; |
|
(5) an act that violates a school district's |
|
previously communicated written standards of student conduct for |
|
which the child has been expelled under Section 37.007(c), |
|
Education Code; |
|
(6) conduct that violates a reasonable and lawful |
|
order of a court entered under Section 264.305; |
|
(7) notwithstanding Subsection (a)(1), conduct |
|
described by Section 43.02(a) or (b) [43.02(a)(1) or (2)], Penal |
|
Code; or |
|
(8) notwithstanding Subsection (a)(1), conduct that |
|
violates Section 43.261, Penal Code. |
|
SECTION 5. Section 261.001(1), Family Code, is amended to |
|
read as follows: |
|
(1) "Abuse" includes the following acts or omissions |
|
by a person: |
|
(A) mental or emotional injury to a child that |
|
results in an observable and material impairment in the child's |
|
growth, development, or psychological functioning; |
|
(B) causing or permitting the child to be in a |
|
situation in which the child sustains a mental or emotional injury |
|
that results in an observable and material impairment in the |
|
child's growth, development, or psychological functioning; |
|
(C) physical injury that results in substantial |
|
harm to the child, or the genuine threat of substantial harm from |
|
physical injury to the child, including an injury that is at |
|
variance with the history or explanation given and excluding an |
|
accident or reasonable discipline by a parent, guardian, or |
|
managing or possessory conservator that does not expose the child |
|
to a substantial risk of harm; |
|
(D) failure to make a reasonable effort to |
|
prevent an action by another person that results in physical injury |
|
that results in substantial harm to the child; |
|
(E) sexual conduct harmful to a child's mental, |
|
emotional, or physical welfare, including conduct that constitutes |
|
the offense of continuous sexual abuse of young child or children |
|
under Section 21.02, Penal Code, indecency with a child under |
|
Section 21.11, Penal Code, sexual assault under Section 22.011, |
|
Penal Code, or aggravated sexual assault under Section 22.021, |
|
Penal Code; |
|
(F) failure to make a reasonable effort to |
|
prevent sexual conduct harmful to a child; |
|
(G) compelling or encouraging the child to engage |
|
in sexual conduct as defined by Section 43.01, Penal Code, |
|
including compelling or encouraging the child in a manner [conduct] |
|
that constitutes an offense of trafficking of persons under Section |
|
20A.02(a)(7) or (8), Penal Code, prostitution under Section |
|
43.02(b) [43.02(a)(2)], Penal Code, or compelling prostitution |
|
under Section 43.05(a)(2), Penal Code; |
|
(H) causing, permitting, encouraging, engaging |
|
in, or allowing the photographing, filming, or depicting of the |
|
child if the person knew or should have known that the resulting |
|
photograph, film, or depiction of the child is obscene as defined by |
|
Section 43.21, Penal Code, or pornographic; |
|
(I) the current use by a person of a controlled |
|
substance as defined by Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code, in a |
|
manner or to the extent that the use results in physical, mental, or |
|
emotional injury to a child; |
|
(J) causing, expressly permitting, or |
|
encouraging a child to use a controlled substance as defined by |
|
Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code; |
|
(K) causing, permitting, encouraging, engaging |
|
in, or allowing a sexual performance by a child as defined by |
|
Section 43.25, Penal Code; or |
|
(L) knowingly causing, permitting, encouraging, |
|
engaging in, or allowing a child to be trafficked in a manner |
|
punishable as an offense under Section 20A.02(a)(5), (6), (7), or |
|
(8), Penal Code, or the failure to make a reasonable effort to |
|
prevent a child from being trafficked in a manner punishable as an |
|
offense under any of those sections. |
|
SECTION 6. Section 169.002(a), Health and Safety Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) The commissioners court of a county or governing body of |
|
a municipality may establish a first offender prostitution |
|
prevention program for defendants charged with an offense under |
|
Section 43.02(b) [43.02(a)(2)], Penal Code[, in which the defendant
|
|
offered or agreed to hire a person to engage in sexual conduct]. |
|
SECTION 7. Section 169A.002(a), Health and Safety Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) The commissioners court of a county or governing body of |
|
a municipality may establish a prostitution prevention program for |
|
defendants charged with an offense under Section 43.02(a) |
|
[43.02(a)(1)], Penal Code[, in which the defendant offered or
|
|
agreed to engage in or engaged in sexual conduct for a fee]. |
|
SECTION 8. Section 481.115, Health and Safety Code, is |
|
amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (b-1) to |
|
read as follows: |
|
(b) Except as provided by Subsection (b-1), an [An] offense |
|
under Subsection (a) is a Class A misdemeanor [state jail felony] if |
|
the amount of the controlled substance possessed is, by aggregate |
|
weight, including adulterants or dilutants, less than one gram. |
|
(b-1) An offense punishable under Subsection (b) is a state |
|
jail felony if the person has been previously convicted of an |
|
offense under this section or Section 481.1151, 481.116, 481.1161, |
|
481.117, 481.118, or 481.121. |
|
SECTION 9. Section 481.121(b), Health and Safety Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(b) An offense under Subsection (a) is: |
|
(1) a Class C misdemeanor if the amount of marihuana |
|
possessed is one ounce or less; |
|
(2) a Class B misdemeanor if the amount of marihuana |
|
possessed is two ounces or less but more than one ounce; |
|
(3) [(2)] a Class A misdemeanor if the amount of |
|
marihuana possessed is four ounces or less but more than two ounces; |
|
(4) [(3)] a state jail felony if the amount of |
|
marihuana possessed is five pounds or less but more than four |
|
ounces; |
|
(5) [(4)] a felony of the third degree if the amount of |
|
marihuana possessed is 50 pounds or less but more than 5 pounds; |
|
(6) [(5)] a felony of the second degree if the amount |
|
of marihuana possessed is 2,000 pounds or less but more than 50 |
|
pounds; and |
|
(7) [(6)] punishable by imprisonment in the Texas |
|
Department of Criminal Justice for life or for a term of not more |
|
than 99 years or less than 5 years, and a fine not to exceed $50,000, |
|
if the amount of marihuana possessed is more than 2,000 pounds. |
|
SECTION 10. Section 481.126(a), Health and Safety Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) A person commits an offense if the person: |
|
(1) barters property or expends funds the person knows |
|
are derived from the commission of an offense under this chapter |
|
punishable by imprisonment in the Texas Department of Criminal |
|
Justice for life; |
|
(2) barters property or expends funds the person knows |
|
are derived from the commission of an offense under Section |
|
481.121(a) that is punishable under Section 481.121(b)(6) |
|
[481.121(b)(5)]; |
|
(3) barters property or finances or invests funds the |
|
person knows or believes are intended to further the commission of |
|
an offense for which the punishment is described by Subdivision |
|
(1); or |
|
(4) barters property or finances or invests funds the |
|
person knows or believes are intended to further the commission of |
|
an offense under Section 481.121(a) that is punishable under |
|
Section 481.121(b)(6) [481.121(b)(5)]. |
|
SECTION 11. Sections 481.134(c), (d), (e), and (f), Health |
|
and Safety Code, are amended to read as follows: |
|
(c) The minimum term of confinement or imprisonment for an |
|
offense otherwise punishable under Section 481.112(c), (d), (e), or |
|
(f), 481.113(c), (d), or (e), 481.114(c), (d), or (e), |
|
481.115(c)-(f), 481.116(c), (d), or (e), 481.1161(b)(4), (5), or |
|
(6), 481.117(c), (d), or (e), 481.118(c), (d), or (e), |
|
481.120(b)(4), (5), or (6), or 481.121(b)(5), (6), or (7) |
|
[481.121(b)(4), (5), or (6)] is increased by five years and the |
|
maximum fine for the offense is doubled if it is shown on the trial |
|
of the offense that the offense was committed: |
|
(1) in, on, or within 1,000 feet of the premises of a |
|
school, the premises of a public or private youth center, or a |
|
playground; or |
|
(2) on a school bus. |
|
(d) An offense otherwise punishable under Section |
|
481.112(b), 481.113(b), 481.114(b), 481.115(b-1) [481.115(b)], |
|
481.116(b), 481.1161(b)(3), 481.120(b)(3), or 481.121(b)(4) |
|
[481.121(b)(3)] is a felony of the third degree if it is shown on |
|
the trial of the offense that the offense was committed: |
|
(1) in, on, or within 1,000 feet of any real property |
|
that is owned, rented, or leased to a school or school board, the |
|
premises of a public or private youth center, or a playground; or |
|
(2) on a school bus. |
|
(e) An offense otherwise punishable under Section |
|
481.117(b), 481.119(a), 481.120(b)(2), or 481.121(b)(3) |
|
[481.121(b)(2)] is a state jail felony if it is shown on the trial |
|
of the offense that the offense was committed: |
|
(1) in, on, or within 1,000 feet of any real property |
|
that is owned, rented, or leased to a school or school board, the |
|
premises of a public or private youth center, or a playground; or |
|
(2) on a school bus. |
|
(f) An offense otherwise punishable under Section |
|
481.118(b), 481.119(b), 481.120(b)(1), or 481.121(b)(1) or (2) is a |
|
Class A misdemeanor if it is shown on the trial of the offense that |
|
the offense was committed: |
|
(1) in, on, or within 1,000 feet of any real property |
|
that is owned, rented, or leased to a school or school board, the |
|
premises of a public or private youth center, or a playground; or |
|
(2) on a school bus. |
|
SECTION 12. Section 28.03(b), Penal Code, is amended to |
|
read as follows: |
|
(b) Except as provided by Subsections (f) and (h), an |
|
offense under this section is: |
|
(1) a Class C misdemeanor if: |
|
(A) the amount of pecuniary loss is less than |
|
$500 [$50]; or |
|
(B) except as provided in Subdivision (3)(A) or |
|
(3)(B), it causes substantial inconvenience to others; |
|
(2) a Class B misdemeanor if the amount of pecuniary |
|
loss is $500 [$50] or more but less than $1,500 [$500]; |
|
(3) a Class A misdemeanor if: |
|
(A) the amount of pecuniary loss |
|
is $1,500 [$500] or more but less than $20,000 [$1,500]; or |
|
(B) the actor causes in whole or in part |
|
impairment or interruption of any public water supply, or causes to |
|
be diverted in whole, in part, or in any manner, including |
|
installation or removal of any device for any such purpose, any |
|
public water supply, regardless of the amount of the pecuniary |
|
loss; |
|
(4) a state jail felony if the amount of pecuniary loss |
|
is: |
|
(A) [$1,500 or more but less than $20,000;
|
|
[(B)] less than $20,000 [$1,500], if the property |
|
damaged or destroyed is a habitation and if the damage or |
|
destruction is caused by a firearm or explosive weapon; |
|
(B) [(C)] less than $20,000 [$1,500], if the |
|
property was a fence used for the production or containment of: |
|
(i) cattle, bison, horses, sheep, swine, |
|
goats, exotic livestock, or exotic poultry; or |
|
(ii) game animals as that term is defined by |
|
Section 63.001, Parks and Wildlife Code; or |
|
(C) [(D)] less than $20,000 and the actor causes |
|
wholly or partly impairment or interruption of public |
|
communications, public transportation, public gas or power supply, |
|
or other public service, or causes to be diverted wholly, partly, or |
|
in any manner, including installation or removal of any device for |
|
any such purpose, any public communications or public gas or power |
|
supply; |
|
(5) a felony of the third degree if the amount of the |
|
pecuniary loss is $20,000 or more but less than $100,000; |
|
(6) a felony of the second degree if the amount of |
|
pecuniary loss is $100,000 or more but less than $200,000; or |
|
(7) a felony of the first degree if the amount of |
|
pecuniary loss is $200,000 or more. |
|
SECTION 13. Sections 28.08(b) and (d), Penal Code, are |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(b) Except as provided by Subsection (d), an offense under |
|
this section is: |
|
(1) a Class C misdemeanor if the amount of pecuniary |
|
loss is less than $100; |
|
(2) a Class B misdemeanor if the amount of pecuniary |
|
loss is $100 or more but less than $750 [$500]; |
|
(3) [(2)] a Class A misdemeanor if the amount of |
|
pecuniary loss is $750 [$500] or more but less than $2,500 [$1,500]; |
|
(4) [(3)] a state jail felony if the amount of |
|
pecuniary loss is $2,500 [$1,500] or more but less than $30,000 |
|
[$20,000]; |
|
(5) [(4)] a felony of the third degree if the amount of |
|
pecuniary loss is $30,000 [$20,000] or more but less than $150,000 |
|
[$100,000]; |
|
(6) [(5)] a felony of the second degree if the amount |
|
of pecuniary loss is $150,000 [$100,000] or more but less than |
|
$300,000 [$200,000]; or |
|
(7) [(6)] a felony of the first degree if the amount of |
|
pecuniary loss is $300,000 [$200,000] or more. |
|
(d) An offense under this section is a state jail felony if: |
|
(1) the marking is made on a school, an institution of |
|
higher education, a place of worship or human burial, a public |
|
monument, or a community center that provides medical, social, or |
|
educational programs; and |
|
(2) the amount of the pecuniary loss to real property |
|
or to tangible personal property is $750 or more but less than |
|
$30,000 [$20,000]. |
|
SECTION 14. Section 30.02(c), Penal Code, is amended to |
|
read as follows: |
|
(c) Except as provided in Subsection (d), an offense under |
|
this section is a: |
|
(1) Class A misdemeanor [state jail felony] if |
|
committed in a building other than a habitation; or |
|
(2) felony of the second degree if committed in a |
|
habitation. |
|
SECTION 15. Section 31.03(e), Penal Code, is amended to |
|
read as follows: |
|
(e) Except as provided by Subsection (f), an offense under |
|
this section is: |
|
(1) a Class C misdemeanor if the value of the property |
|
stolen is less than $500 [:
|
|
[(A) $50; or
|
|
[(B)
$20 and the defendant obtained the property
|
|
by issuing or passing a check or similar sight order in a manner
|
|
described by Section 31.06]; |
|
(2) a Class B misdemeanor if: |
|
(A) the value of the property stolen is $500 [:
|
|
[(i) $50] or more but less than $1,500 |
|
[$500]; [or
|
|
[(ii)
$20 or more but less than $500 and the
|
|
defendant obtained the property by issuing or passing a check or
|
|
similar sight order in a manner described by Section 31.06;] |
|
(B) the value of the property stolen is less than |
|
$500 [:
|
|
[(i) $50] and the defendant has previously |
|
been convicted of any grade of theft; or |
|
[(ii)
$20, the defendant has previously
|
|
been convicted of any grade of theft, and the defendant obtained the
|
|
property by issuing or passing a check or similar sight order in a
|
|
manner described by Section 31.06; or] |
|
(C) the property stolen is a driver's license, |
|
commercial driver's license, or personal identification |
|
certificate issued by this state or another state; |
|
(3) a Class A misdemeanor if the value of the property |
|
stolen is $1,500 [$500] or more but less than $20,000 [$1,500]; |
|
(4) a state jail felony if: |
|
(A) [the value of the property stolen is $1,500
|
|
or more but less than $20,000, or] the property is less than 10 head |
|
of sheep, swine, or goats or any part thereof under the value of |
|
$20,000; |
|
(B) regardless of value, the property is stolen |
|
from the person of another or from a human corpse or grave, |
|
including property that is a military grave marker; |
|
(C) the property stolen is a firearm, as defined |
|
by Section 46.01; |
|
(D) the value of the property stolen is less than |
|
$20,000 [$1,500] and the defendant has been previously convicted |
|
two or more times of any grade of theft; |
|
(E) the property stolen is an official ballot or |
|
official carrier envelope for an election; or |
|
(F) the value of the property stolen is less than |
|
$20,000 and the property stolen is: |
|
(i) aluminum; |
|
(ii) bronze; |
|
(iii) copper; or |
|
(iv) brass; |
|
(5) a felony of the third degree if the value of the |
|
property stolen is $20,000 or more but less than $100,000, or the |
|
property is: |
|
(A) cattle, horses, or exotic livestock or exotic |
|
fowl as defined by Section 142.001, Agriculture Code, stolen during |
|
a single transaction and having an aggregate value of less than |
|
$100,000; or |
|
(B) 10 or more head of sheep, swine, or goats |
|
stolen during a single transaction and having an aggregate value of |
|
less than $100,000; |
|
(6) a felony of the second degree if: |
|
(A) the value of the property stolen is $100,000 |
|
or more but less than $200,000; or |
|
(B) the value of the property stolen is less than |
|
$200,000 and the property stolen is an automated teller machine or |
|
the contents or components of an automated teller machine; or |
|
(7) a felony of the first degree if the value of the |
|
property stolen is $200,000 or more. |
|
SECTION 16. Sections 31.04(b) and (e), Penal Code, are |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(b) For purposes of this section, intent to avoid payment is |
|
presumed if: |
|
(1) the actor absconded without paying for the service |
|
or expressly refused to pay for the service in circumstances where |
|
payment is ordinarily made immediately upon rendering of the |
|
service, as in hotels, campgrounds, recreational vehicle parks, |
|
restaurants, and comparable establishments; |
|
(2) the actor failed to make payment under a service |
|
agreement within 10 days after receiving notice demanding payment; |
|
(3) the actor returns property held under a rental |
|
agreement after the expiration of the rental agreement and fails to |
|
pay the applicable rental charge for the property within 10 days |
|
after the date on which the actor received notice demanding |
|
payment; or |
|
(4) the actor failed to return the property held under |
|
a rental agreement: |
|
(A) within five days after receiving notice |
|
demanding return, if the property is valued at less than $2,500 |
|
[$1,500]; or |
|
(B) within three days after receiving notice |
|
demanding return, if the property is valued at $2,500 [$1,500] or |
|
more. |
|
(e) An offense under this section is: |
|
(1) a Class C misdemeanor if the value of the service |
|
stolen is less than $100 [$20]; |
|
(2) a Class B misdemeanor if the value of the service |
|
stolen is $100 [$20] or more but less than $750 [$500]; |
|
(3) a Class A misdemeanor if the value of the service |
|
stolen is $750 [$500] or more but less than $2,500 [$1,500]; |
|
(4) a state jail felony if the value of the service |
|
stolen is $2,500 [$1,500] or more but less than $30,000 [$20,000]; |
|
(5) a felony of the third degree if the value of the |
|
service stolen is $30,000 [$20,000] or more but less than $150,000 |
|
[$100,000]; |
|
(6) a felony of the second degree if the value of the |
|
service stolen is $150,000 [$100,000] or more but less than |
|
$300,000 [$200,000]; or |
|
(7) a felony of the first degree if the value of the |
|
service stolen is $300,000 [$200,000] or more. |
|
SECTION 17. Section 32.21(c), Penal Code, is amended to |
|
read as follows: |
|
(c) Except as provided by Subsections [(d),] (e) [,] and |
|
(e-1), an offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor. |
|
SECTION 18. Section 32.31(d), Penal Code, is amended to |
|
read as follows: |
|
(d) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor |
|
[state jail felony], except that the offense is a felony of the |
|
third degree if it is shown on the trial of the offense that the |
|
offense was committed against an elderly individual as defined by |
|
Section 22.04. |
|
SECTION 19. Section 32.51(c), Penal Code, is amended to |
|
read as follows: |
|
(c) An offense under this section is: |
|
(1) a Class A misdemeanor [state jail felony] if the |
|
number of items obtained, possessed, transferred, or used is less |
|
than five; |
|
(2) a state jail felony [of the third degree] if the |
|
number of items obtained, possessed, transferred, or used is five |
|
or more but less than 10; |
|
(3) a felony of the third [second] degree if the number |
|
of items obtained, possessed, transferred, or used is 10 or more but |
|
less than 50; or |
|
(4) a felony of the second [first] degree if the number |
|
of items obtained, possessed, transferred, or used is 50 or more. |
|
SECTION 20. Section 43.02, Penal Code, is amended by |
|
amending Subsections (a), (b), (c), and (d) and adding Subsections |
|
(b-1) and (c-1) to read as follows: |
|
(a) A person commits an offense if, in return for receipt of |
|
a fee, the person knowingly: |
|
(1) offers to engage, agrees to engage, or engages in |
|
sexual conduct [for a fee]; or |
|
(2) solicits another in a public place to engage with |
|
the actor [person] in sexual conduct for hire. |
|
(b) A person commits an offense if, based on the payment of a |
|
fee by the actor or another person on behalf of the actor, the |
|
person knowingly: |
|
(1) offers to engage, agrees to engage, or engages in |
|
sexual conduct; or |
|
(2) solicits another in a public place to engage with |
|
the actor in sexual conduct for hire. |
|
(b-1) An offense is established under Subsection (a) |
|
regardless of [(a)(1)] whether the actor is offered or actually |
|
receives the [is to receive or pay a] fee. An offense is |
|
established under Subsection (b) regardless of [(a)(2)] whether the |
|
actor or another person on behalf of the actor offers or actually |
|
pays the fee [solicits a person to hire the actor or offers to hire
|
|
the person solicited]. |
|
(c) An offense under Subsection (a) [this section] is a |
|
Class B misdemeanor, except that the offense is a Class A |
|
misdemeanor if the actor has previously been convicted one or more |
|
times of an offense under that subsection. |
|
(c-1) An offense under Subsection (b) is a Class B |
|
misdemeanor, except that the offense is: |
|
(1) a Class A misdemeanor if the actor has previously |
|
been convicted one or two times of an offense under that subsection |
|
[this section]; |
|
(2) a state jail felony if the actor has previously |
|
been convicted three or more times of an offense under that |
|
subsection [this section]; or |
|
(3) a felony of the second degree if the person |
|
solicited is younger than 18 years of age, regardless of whether the |
|
actor knows the age of the person solicited at the time the actor |
|
commits the offense. |
|
(d) It is a defense to prosecution for an offense under |
|
Subsection (a) [under this section] that the actor engaged in the |
|
conduct that constitutes the offense because the actor was the |
|
victim of conduct that constitutes an offense under Section 20A.02 |
|
or 43.05. |
|
SECTION 21. Section 32.21(d), Penal Code, is repealed. |
|
SECTION 22. (a) Not later than December 1 of each year, the |
|
Texas Department of Criminal Justice shall report to the |
|
legislature on the financial impact to the state during the |
|
preceding state fiscal year of reducing penalties under this Act. |
|
(b) The report must include an analysis of incarceration |
|
costs incurred by the state and local governments, including the |
|
cost of constructing prisons and jails. |
|
(c) The comptroller shall verify the findings of the Texas |
|
Department of Criminal Justice in analyzing the cost savings |
|
realized by the state under this Act. The Texas Department of |
|
Criminal Justice may retain the amount of the actual savings |
|
attributable to implementation of this Act, to the extent that the |
|
savings come from funds appropriated to the department and to the |
|
extent the department distributed that amount to programs or |
|
facilities for the supervision and rehabilitation of offenders. The |
|
Texas Department of Criminal Justice may transfer savings |
|
attributable to implementation of this Act from the first year of |
|
the fiscal biennium to the second year of the fiscal biennium, |
|
provided that the department uses the full amount transferred for |
|
distribution to programs or facilities for the supervision and |
|
rehabilitation of offenders. |
|
SECTION 23. 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 section, an offense was committed before the |
|
effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred |
|
before that date. |
|
SECTION 24. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |