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AN ACT
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relating to measures to address and deter certain criminal or other |
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unlawful activity, including trafficking of persons, sexual |
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offenses, prostitution, and activity that may constitute a public |
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nuisance; increasing criminal penalties; 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 17.46(b), Business & Commerce Code, as |
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amended by Chapters 1023 (H.B. 1265) and 1080 (H.B. 2573), Acts of |
|
the 84th Legislature, Regular Session, 2015, is reenacted and |
|
amended to read as follows: |
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(b) Except as provided in Subsection (d) of this section, |
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the term "false, misleading, or deceptive acts or practices" |
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includes, but is not limited to, the following acts: |
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(1) passing off goods or services as those of another; |
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(2) causing confusion or misunderstanding as to the |
|
source, sponsorship, approval, or certification of goods or |
|
services; |
|
(3) causing confusion or misunderstanding as to |
|
affiliation, connection, or association with, or certification by, |
|
another; |
|
(4) using deceptive representations or designations |
|
of geographic origin in connection with goods or services; |
|
(5) representing that goods or services have |
|
sponsorship, approval, characteristics, ingredients, uses, |
|
benefits, or quantities which they do not have or that a person has |
|
a sponsorship, approval, status, affiliation, or connection which |
|
the person does not; |
|
(6) representing that goods are original or new if |
|
they are deteriorated, reconditioned, reclaimed, used, or |
|
secondhand; |
|
(7) representing that goods or services are of a |
|
particular standard, quality, or grade, or that goods are of a |
|
particular style or model, if they are of another; |
|
(8) disparaging the goods, services, or business of |
|
another by false or misleading representation of facts; |
|
(9) advertising goods or services with intent not to |
|
sell them as advertised; |
|
(10) advertising goods or services with intent not to |
|
supply a reasonable expectable public demand, unless the |
|
advertisements disclosed a limitation of quantity; |
|
(11) making false or misleading statements of fact |
|
concerning the reasons for, existence of, or amount of price |
|
reductions; |
|
(12) representing that an agreement confers or |
|
involves rights, remedies, or obligations which it does not have or |
|
involve, or which are prohibited by law; |
|
(13) knowingly making false or misleading statements |
|
of fact concerning the need for parts, replacement, or repair |
|
service; |
|
(14) misrepresenting the authority of a salesman, |
|
representative or agent to negotiate the final terms of a consumer |
|
transaction; |
|
(15) basing a charge for the repair of any item in |
|
whole or in part on a guaranty or warranty instead of on the value of |
|
the actual repairs made or work to be performed on the item without |
|
stating separately the charges for the work and the charge for the |
|
warranty or guaranty, if any; |
|
(16) disconnecting, turning back, or resetting the |
|
odometer of any motor vehicle so as to reduce the number of miles |
|
indicated on the odometer gauge; |
|
(17) advertising of any sale by fraudulently |
|
representing that a person is going out of business; |
|
(18) advertising, selling, or distributing a card |
|
which purports to be a prescription drug identification card issued |
|
under Section 4151.152, Insurance Code, in accordance with rules |
|
adopted by the commissioner of insurance, which offers a discount |
|
on the purchase of health care goods or services from a third party |
|
provider, and which is not evidence of insurance coverage, unless: |
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(A) the discount is authorized under an agreement |
|
between the seller of the card and the provider of those goods and |
|
services or the discount or card is offered to members of the |
|
seller; |
|
(B) the seller does not represent that the card |
|
provides insurance coverage of any kind; and |
|
(C) the discount is not false, misleading, or |
|
deceptive; |
|
(19) using or employing a chain referral sales plan in |
|
connection with the sale or offer to sell of goods, merchandise, or |
|
anything of value, which uses the sales technique, plan, |
|
arrangement, or agreement in which the buyer or prospective buyer |
|
is offered the opportunity to purchase merchandise or goods and in |
|
connection with the purchase receives the seller's promise or |
|
representation that the buyer shall have the right to receive |
|
compensation or consideration in any form for furnishing to the |
|
seller the names of other prospective buyers if receipt of the |
|
compensation or consideration is contingent upon the occurrence of |
|
an event subsequent to the time the buyer purchases the merchandise |
|
or goods; |
|
(20) representing that a guaranty or warranty confers |
|
or involves rights or remedies which it does not have or involve, |
|
provided, however, that nothing in this subchapter shall be |
|
construed to expand the implied warranty of merchantability as |
|
defined in Sections 2.314 through 2.318 and Sections 2A.212 through |
|
2A.216 to involve obligations in excess of those which are |
|
appropriate to the goods; |
|
(21) promoting a pyramid promotional scheme, as |
|
defined by Section 17.461; |
|
(22) representing that work or services have been |
|
performed on, or parts replaced in, goods when the work or services |
|
were not performed or the parts replaced; |
|
(23) filing suit founded upon a written contractual |
|
obligation of and signed by the defendant to pay money arising out |
|
of or based on a consumer transaction for goods, services, loans, or |
|
extensions of credit intended primarily for personal, family, |
|
household, or agricultural use in any county other than in the |
|
county in which the defendant resides at the time of the |
|
commencement of the action or in the county in which the defendant |
|
in fact signed the contract; provided, however, that a violation of |
|
this subsection shall not occur where it is shown by the person |
|
filing such suit that the person neither knew or had reason to know |
|
that the county in which such suit was filed was neither the county |
|
in which the defendant resides at the commencement of the suit nor |
|
the county in which the defendant in fact signed the contract; |
|
(24) failing to disclose information concerning goods |
|
or services which was known at the time of the transaction if such |
|
failure to disclose such information was intended to induce the |
|
consumer into a transaction into which the consumer would not have |
|
entered had the information been disclosed; |
|
(25) using the term "corporation," "incorporated," or |
|
an abbreviation of either of those terms in the name of a business |
|
entity that is not incorporated under the laws of this state or |
|
another jurisdiction; |
|
(26) selling, offering to sell, or illegally promoting |
|
an annuity contract under Chapter 22, Acts of the 57th Legislature, |
|
3rd Called Session, 1962 (Article 6228a-5, Vernon's Texas Civil |
|
Statutes), with the intent that the annuity contract will be the |
|
subject of a salary reduction agreement, as defined by that Act, if |
|
the annuity contract is not an eligible qualified investment under |
|
that Act or is not registered with the Teacher Retirement System of |
|
Texas as required by Section 8A of that Act; |
|
(27) taking advantage of a disaster declared by the |
|
governor under Chapter 418, Government Code, by: |
|
(A) selling or leasing fuel, food, medicine, or |
|
another necessity at an exorbitant or excessive price; or |
|
(B) demanding an exorbitant or excessive price in |
|
connection with the sale or lease of fuel, food, medicine, or |
|
another necessity; |
|
(28) using the translation into a foreign language of |
|
a title or other word, including "attorney," "lawyer," "licensed," |
|
"notary," and "notary public," in any written or electronic |
|
material, including an advertisement, a business card, a |
|
letterhead, stationery, a website, or an online video, in reference |
|
to a person who is not an attorney in order to imply that the person |
|
is authorized to practice law in the United States; |
|
(29) [(28)] delivering or distributing a solicitation |
|
in connection with a good or service that: |
|
(A) represents that the solicitation is sent on |
|
behalf of a governmental entity when it is not; or |
|
(B) resembles a governmental notice or form that |
|
represents or implies that a criminal penalty may be imposed if the |
|
recipient does not remit payment for the good or service; |
|
(30) [(29)] delivering or distributing a solicitation |
|
in connection with a good or service that resembles a check or other |
|
negotiable instrument or invoice, unless the portion of the |
|
solicitation that resembles a check or other negotiable instrument |
|
or invoice includes the following notice, clearly and conspicuously |
|
printed in at least 18-point type: |
|
"SPECIMEN-NON-NEGOTIABLE"; |
|
(31) [(30)] in the production, sale, distribution, or |
|
promotion of a synthetic substance that produces and is intended to |
|
produce an effect when consumed or ingested similar to, or in excess |
|
of, the effect of a controlled substance or controlled substance |
|
analogue, as those terms are defined by Section 481.002, Health and |
|
Safety Code: |
|
(A) making a deceptive representation or |
|
designation about the synthetic substance; or |
|
(B) causing confusion or misunderstanding as to |
|
the effects the synthetic substance causes when consumed or |
|
ingested; [or] |
|
(32) [(31)] a licensed public insurance adjuster |
|
directly or indirectly soliciting employment, as defined by Section |
|
38.01, Penal Code, for an attorney, or a licensed public insurance |
|
adjuster entering into a contract with an insured for the primary |
|
purpose of referring the insured to an attorney without the intent |
|
to actually perform the services customarily provided by a licensed |
|
public insurance adjuster, provided that this subdivision may not |
|
be construed to prohibit a licensed public insurance adjuster from |
|
recommending a particular attorney to an insured; or |
|
(33) owning, operating, maintaining, or advertising a |
|
massage establishment, as defined by Section 455.001, Occupations |
|
Code, that: |
|
(A) is not appropriately licensed under Chapter |
|
455, Occupations Code, or is not in compliance with the applicable |
|
licensing and other requirements of that chapter; or |
|
(B) is not in compliance with an applicable local |
|
ordinance relating to the licensing or regulation of massage |
|
establishments. |
|
SECTION 2. Section 125.001, Civil Practice and Remedies |
|
Code, is amended by adding Subdivisions (1-a) and (4) to read as |
|
follows: |
|
(1-a) "Computer network" means the interconnection of |
|
two or more computers or computer systems by satellite, microwave, |
|
line, or other communication medium with the capability to transmit |
|
information between the computers. |
|
(4) "Web address" means a website operating on the |
|
Internet. |
|
SECTION 3. Section 125.0015, Civil Practice and Remedies |
|
Code, is amended by adding Subsections (c), (d), and (e) to read as |
|
follows: |
|
(c) A person operating a web address or computer network in |
|
connection with an activity described by Subsection (a)(3), (6), |
|
(7), (10), (11), (17), (18), (19), (20), (21), or (22) maintains a |
|
common nuisance. |
|
(d) Subsection (c) does not apply to: |
|
(1) a provider of remote computing services or |
|
electronic communication services to the public; |
|
(2) a provider of an interactive computer service as |
|
defined by 47 U.S.C. Section 230; |
|
(3) an Internet service provider; |
|
(4) a search engine operator; |
|
(5) a browsing or hosting company; |
|
(6) an operating system provider; or |
|
(7) a device manufacturer. |
|
(e) This section does not apply to an activity exempted, |
|
authorized, or otherwise lawful activity regulated by federal law. |
|
SECTION 4. Subchapter A, Chapter 125, Civil Practice and |
|
Remedies Code, is amended by adding Section 125.0017 to read as |
|
follows: |
|
Sec. 125.0017. NOTICE OF ARREST FOR CERTAIN ACTIVITIES. If |
|
a law enforcement agency makes an arrest related to an activity |
|
described by Section 125.0015(a)(6), (7), or (18) that occurs at |
|
property leased to a person operating a massage establishment as |
|
defined by Section 455.001, Occupations Code, not later than the |
|
seventh day after the date of the arrest, the law enforcement agency |
|
shall provide written notice by certified mail to each person |
|
maintaining the property of the arrest. |
|
SECTION 5. The heading to Section 125.002, Civil Practice |
|
and Remedies Code, is amended to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 125.002. SUIT TO ABATE CERTAIN COMMON NUISANCES |
|
[NUISANCE]; BOND. |
|
SECTION 6. Sections 125.002(a), (g), and (h), Civil |
|
Practice and Remedies Code, are amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) A suit to enjoin and abate a common nuisance described |
|
by Section 125.0015(a) or (b) may be brought by an individual, by |
|
the attorney general, or by a district, county, or city attorney. |
|
The suit must be brought in the county in which it is alleged to |
|
exist against the person who is maintaining or about to maintain the |
|
nuisance. The suit must be brought in the name of the state if |
|
brought by the attorney general or a district or county attorney, in |
|
the name of the city if brought by a city attorney, or in the name of |
|
the individual if brought by a private citizen. Verification of the |
|
petition or proof of personal injury by the acts complained of need |
|
not be shown. For purposes of this subsection, personal injury may |
|
include economic or monetary loss. |
|
(g) In an action brought under this chapter, other than an |
|
action brought under Section 125.0025, the petitioner may file a |
|
notice of lis pendens and a certified copy of an order of the court |
|
in the office of the county clerk in each county in which the land is |
|
located. The notice of lis pendens must conform to the requirements |
|
of Section 12.007, Property Code, and constitutes notice as |
|
provided by Section 13.004, Property Code. A certified copy of an |
|
order of the court filed in the office of the county clerk |
|
constitutes notice of the terms of the order and is binding on |
|
subsequent purchasers and lienholders. |
|
(h) A person who may bring a suit under Subsection (a) |
|
[Section 125.0015] shall consider, among other factors, whether the |
|
property owner, the owner's authorized representative, or the |
|
operator or occupant of the business, dwelling, or other place |
|
where the criminal acts occurred: |
|
(1) promptly notifies the appropriate governmental |
|
entity or the entity's law enforcement agency of the occurrence of |
|
criminal acts on the property; and |
|
(2) cooperates with the governmental entity's law |
|
enforcement investigation of criminal acts occurring at the |
|
property. |
|
SECTION 7. Subchapter A, Chapter 125, Civil Practice and |
|
Remedies Code, is amended by adding Section 125.0025 to read as |
|
follows: |
|
Sec. 125.0025. SUIT TO DECLARE CERTAIN COMMON NUISANCES. |
|
(a) A suit to declare that a person operating a web address or |
|
computer network is maintaining a common nuisance may be brought by |
|
an individual, by the attorney general, or by a district, county, or |
|
city attorney. |
|
(b) Except as provided by Section 125.003(d), on a finding |
|
that a web address or computer network is a common nuisance, the |
|
sole remedy available is a judicial finding issued to the attorney |
|
general. |
|
(c) The attorney general may: |
|
(1) notify Internet service providers, search engine |
|
operators, browsing or hosting companies, or device manufacturers |
|
on which applications are hosted of the judicial finding issued to |
|
the attorney general under Subsection (b) to determine if the |
|
persons notified are able to offer technical assistance to the |
|
attorney general in a manner consistent with 47 U.S.C. Section 230; |
|
or |
|
(2) post the judicial finding issued to the attorney |
|
general under Subsection (b) on the attorney general's Internet |
|
website. |
|
SECTION 8. Section 125.004, Civil Practice and Remedies |
|
Code, is amended by adding Subsections (a-1), (a-2), (a-3), and (e) |
|
and amending Subsection (d) to read as follows: |
|
(a-1) Proof in the form of a person's arrest or the |
|
testimony of a law enforcement agent that an activity described by |
|
Section 125.0015(a)(6) or (7) is committed at a place licensed as a |
|
massage establishment under Chapter 455, Occupations Code, or |
|
advertised as offering massage therapy or massage services after |
|
notice of an arrest was provided to the defendant in accordance with |
|
Section 125.0017 is prima facie evidence that the defendant |
|
knowingly tolerated the activity. |
|
(a-2) Proof that an activity described by Section |
|
125.0015(a)(18) is committed at a place maintained by the defendant |
|
after notice of an arrest was provided to the defendant in |
|
accordance with Section 125.0017 is prima facie evidence that the |
|
defendant: |
|
(1) knowingly tolerated the activity; and |
|
(2) did not make a reasonable attempt to abate the |
|
activity. |
|
(a-3) For purposes of Subsections (a-1) and (a-2), notice is |
|
considered to be provided to the defendant seven days after the |
|
postmark date of the notice provided under Section 125.0017. |
|
(d) Notwithstanding Subsections [Subsection] (a), (a-1), or |
|
(a-2), evidence that the defendant, the defendant's authorized |
|
representative, or another person acting at the direction of the |
|
defendant or the defendant's authorized representative requested |
|
law enforcement or emergency assistance with respect to an activity |
|
at the place where the common nuisance is allegedly maintained is |
|
not admissible for the purpose of showing the defendant tolerated |
|
the activity or failed to make reasonable attempts to abate the |
|
activity alleged to constitute the nuisance but may be admitted for |
|
other purposes, such as showing that a crime listed in Section |
|
125.0015 occurred. Evidence that the defendant refused to |
|
cooperate with law enforcement or emergency services with respect |
|
to the activity is admissible. The posting of a sign prohibiting |
|
the activity alleged is not conclusive evidence that the owner did |
|
not tolerate the activity. |
|
(e) Evidence of a previous suit filed under this chapter |
|
that resulted in a judgment against a landowner with respect to an |
|
activity described by Section 125.0015 at the landowner's property |
|
is admissible in a subsequent suit filed under this chapter to |
|
demonstrate that the landowner: |
|
(1) knowingly tolerated the activity; and |
|
(2) did not make a reasonable attempt to abate the |
|
activity. |
|
SECTION 9. Subchapter C, Chapter 11, Education Code, is |
|
amended by adding Section 11.066 to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 11.066. ELIGIBILITY FOR SERVICE BY TRUSTEE CONVICTED |
|
OF CERTAIN OFFENSE. A person is ineligible to serve as a member of |
|
the board of trustees of a school district if the person has been |
|
convicted of an offense under Section 43.02(b), Penal Code. |
|
SECTION 10. Section 411.042(b), Government Code, is amended |
|
to read as follows: |
|
(b) The bureau of identification and records shall: |
|
(1) procure and file for record photographs, pictures, |
|
descriptions, fingerprints, measurements, and other pertinent |
|
information of all persons arrested for or charged with a criminal |
|
offense or convicted of a criminal offense, regardless of whether |
|
the conviction is probated; |
|
(2) collect information concerning the number and |
|
nature of offenses reported or known to have been committed in the |
|
state and the legal steps taken in connection with the offenses, and |
|
other information useful in the study of crime and the |
|
administration of justice, including information that enables the |
|
bureau to create a statistical breakdown of: |
|
(A) offenses in which family violence was |
|
involved; |
|
(B) offenses under Sections 22.011 and 22.021, |
|
Penal Code; and |
|
(C) offenses under Sections 20A.02, 43.02(a), |
|
43.02(b), 43.03, and 43.05, Penal Code; |
|
(3) make ballistic tests of bullets and firearms and |
|
chemical analyses of bloodstains, cloth, materials, and other |
|
substances for law enforcement officers of the state; |
|
(4) cooperate with identification and crime records |
|
bureaus in other states and the United States Department of |
|
Justice; |
|
(5) maintain a list of all previous background checks |
|
for applicants for any position regulated under Chapter 1702, |
|
Occupations Code, who have undergone a criminal history background |
|
check under Section 411.119, if the check indicates a Class B |
|
misdemeanor or equivalent offense or a greater offense; |
|
(6) collect information concerning the number and |
|
nature of protective orders and magistrate's orders of emergency |
|
protection and all other pertinent information about all persons |
|
subject to active orders, including pertinent information about |
|
persons subject to conditions of bond imposed for the protection of |
|
the victim in any family violence, sexual assault or abuse, |
|
stalking, or trafficking case. Information in the law enforcement |
|
information system relating to an active order shall include: |
|
(A) the name, sex, race, date of birth, personal |
|
descriptors, address, and county of residence of the person to whom |
|
the order is directed; |
|
(B) any known identifying number of the person to |
|
whom the order is directed, including the person's social security |
|
number or driver's license number; |
|
(C) the name and county of residence of the |
|
person protected by the order; |
|
(D) the residence address and place of employment |
|
or business of the person protected by the order, unless that |
|
information is excluded from the order under Section 85.007, Family |
|
Code, or Article 17.292(e), Code of Criminal Procedure; |
|
(E) the child-care facility or school where a |
|
child protected by the order normally resides or which the child |
|
normally attends, unless that information is excluded from the |
|
order under Section 85.007, Family Code, or Article 17.292(e), Code |
|
of Criminal Procedure; |
|
(F) the relationship or former relationship |
|
between the person who is protected by the order and the person to |
|
whom the order is directed; |
|
(G) the conditions of bond imposed on the person |
|
to whom the order is directed, if any, for the protection of a |
|
victim in any family violence, sexual assault or abuse, stalking, |
|
or trafficking case; |
|
(H) any minimum distance the person subject to |
|
the order is required to maintain from the protected places or |
|
persons; and |
|
(I) the date the order expires; |
|
(7) grant access to criminal history record |
|
information in the manner authorized under Subchapter F; |
|
(8) collect and disseminate information regarding |
|
offenders with mental impairments in compliance with Chapter 614, |
|
Health and Safety Code; and |
|
(9) record data and maintain a state database for a |
|
computerized criminal history record system and computerized |
|
juvenile justice information system that serves: |
|
(A) as the record creation point for criminal |
|
history record information and juvenile justice information |
|
maintained by the state; and |
|
(B) as the control terminal for the entry of |
|
records, in accordance with federal law and regulations, federal |
|
executive orders, and federal policy, into the federal database |
|
maintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. |
|
SECTION 11. Subchapter A, Chapter 241, Health and Safety |
|
Code, is amended by adding Section 241.011 to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 241.011. HUMAN TRAFFICKING SIGNS REQUIRED. An |
|
emergency department of a hospital shall display separate signs, in |
|
English and Spanish, that comply with Section 245.025 as if the |
|
hospital is an abortion facility. |
|
SECTION 12. Chapter 245, Health and Safety Code, is amended |
|
by adding Section 245.025 to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 245.025. HUMAN TRAFFICKING SIGNS REQUIRED. (a) An |
|
abortion facility shall display separate signs, in English, |
|
Spanish, and any additional language as required by Subsection (b), |
|
side by side in accordance with this section in each restroom and |
|
patient consulting room. The signs must include the following |
|
information: |
|
(1) no person, including an individual's parents, may |
|
force any individual to have an abortion; |
|
(2) it is illegal for a person to force an individual |
|
to engage in sexual acts; |
|
(3) a woman who needs help may call or text a state or |
|
national organization that assists victims of human trafficking and |
|
forced abortions; and |
|
(4) the toll-free number of an organization described |
|
by Subdivision (3). |
|
(b) Signs required under this section must be in English and |
|
Spanish. If an abortion facility is located in a political |
|
subdivision required to provide election materials in a language |
|
other than English or Spanish under Section 272.011, Election Code, |
|
the facility shall display a separate sign in that language. |
|
(c) Signs required under this section must be at least 8-1/2 |
|
by 11 inches in size and displayed in a conspicuous manner clearly |
|
visible to the public and employees of an abortion facility. The |
|
notice must cover at least four-fifths of the sign. |
|
(d) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules as |
|
necessary to implement and enforce this section. |
|
SECTION 13. Section 1602.354, Occupations Code, is amended |
|
by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: |
|
(c) The commission shall require continuing education |
|
programs under this chapter to include information on: |
|
(1) activities commonly associated with human |
|
trafficking; |
|
(2) recognition of potential victims of human |
|
trafficking; and |
|
(3) methods for assisting victims of human |
|
trafficking, including how to report human trafficking. |
|
SECTION 14. Subchapter I, Chapter 1602, Occupations Code, |
|
is amended by adding Section 1602.408 to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 1602.408. POSTING OF CERTAIN NOTICES REQUIRED. (a) In |
|
this section, "licensed facility" means the premises of a place of |
|
business that holds a license, certificate, or permit under this |
|
chapter. |
|
(b) A licensed facility shall display a sign approved by or |
|
acceptable to the commission or the department concerning services |
|
and assistance available to victims of human trafficking. |
|
(c) The sign required by this section must be in English, |
|
Spanish, and Vietnamese and include a toll-free telephone number of |
|
a nationally recognized information and referral hotline for |
|
victims of human trafficking. |
|
(d) The commission by rule shall establish requirements |
|
regarding the posting of signs under this section. |
|
SECTION 15. Section 20A.02(b), Penal Code, is amended to |
|
read as follows: |
|
(b) Except as otherwise provided by this subsection, an |
|
offense under this section is a felony of the second degree. An |
|
offense under this section is a felony of the first degree if: |
|
(1) the applicable conduct constitutes an offense |
|
under Subsection (a)(5), (6), (7), or (8), regardless of whether |
|
the actor knows the age of the child at the time the actor commits |
|
the offense; [or] |
|
(2) the commission of the offense results in the death |
|
of the person who is trafficked; or |
|
(3) the commission of the offense results in the death |
|
of an unborn child of the person who is trafficked. |
|
SECTION 16. (a) This section takes effect only if the Act |
|
of the 85th Legislature, Regular Session, 2017, relating to |
|
nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in enacted codes |
|
becomes law. |
|
(b) Section 21.16(g), Penal Code, as added by Chapter 852 |
|
(S.B. 1135), Acts of the 84th Legislature, Regular Session, 2015, |
|
is amended to read as follows: |
|
(g) An offense under this section is a state jail felony |
|
[Class A misdemeanor]. |
|
(c) Chapter 21, Penal Code, is amended by adding Section |
|
21.18 to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 21.18. SEXUAL COERCION. (a) In this section: |
|
(1) "Intimate visual material" means the visual |
|
material described by Section 21.16(b)(1) or (c). |
|
(2) "Sexual conduct" has the meaning assigned by |
|
Section 43.25. |
|
(b) A person commits an offense if the person intentionally |
|
threatens, including by coercion or extortion, to commit an offense |
|
under Chapter 43 or Section 20A.02(a)(3), (4), (7), or (8), 21.02, |
|
21.08, 21.11, 21.12, 21.15, 21.16, 21.17, 22.011, or 22.021 to |
|
obtain, in return for not committing the threatened offense or in |
|
connection with the threatened offense, any of the following |
|
benefits: |
|
(1) intimate visual material; |
|
(2) an act involving sexual conduct causing arousal or |
|
gratification; or |
|
(3) a monetary benefit or other benefit of value. |
|
(c) A person commits an offense if the person intentionally |
|
threatens, including by coercion or extortion, to commit an offense |
|
under Chapter 19 or 20 or Section 20A.02(a)(1), (2), (5), or (6) to |
|
obtain, in return for not committing the threatened offense or in |
|
connection with the threatened offense, either of the following |
|
benefits: |
|
(1) intimate visual material; or |
|
(2) an act involving sexual conduct causing arousal or |
|
gratification. |
|
(d) This section applies to a threat regardless of how that |
|
threat is communicated, including a threat transmitted through |
|
e-mail or an Internet website, social media account, or chat room |
|
and a threat made by other electronic or technological means. |
|
(e) An offense under this section is a 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 defendant has previously |
|
been convicted of an offense under this section. |
|
SECTION 17. (a) This section takes effect only if the Act |
|
of the 85th Legislature, Regular Session, 2017, relating to |
|
nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in enacted codes does |
|
not become law. |
|
(b) Section 21.16(g), Penal Code, as added by Chapter 852 |
|
(S.B. 1135), Acts of the 84th Legislature, Regular Session, 2015, |
|
is amended to read as follows: |
|
(g) An offense under this section is a state jail felony |
|
[Class A misdemeanor]. |
|
(c) Chapter 21, Penal Code, is amended by adding Section |
|
21.18 to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 21.18. SEXUAL COERCION. (a) In this section: |
|
(1) "Intimate visual material" means the visual |
|
material described by Section 21.16(b)(1) or (c), as added by |
|
Chapter 852 (S.B. 1135), Acts of the 84th Legislature, Regular |
|
Session, 2015. |
|
(2) "Sexual conduct" has the meaning assigned by |
|
Section 43.25. |
|
(b) A person commits an offense if the person intentionally |
|
threatens, including by coercion or extortion, to commit an offense |
|
under Chapter 43 or Section 20A.02(a)(3), (4), (7), or (8), 21.02, |
|
21.08, 21.11, 21.12, 21.15, 21.16, as added by Chapter 852 (S.B. |
|
1135), Acts of the 84th Legislature, Regular Session, 2015, 21.16, |
|
as added by Chapter 676 (H.B. 207), Acts of the 84th Legislature, |
|
Regular Session, 2015, 22.011, or 22.021 to obtain, in return for |
|
not committing the threatened offense or in connection with the |
|
threatened offense, any of the following benefits: |
|
(1) intimate visual material; |
|
(2) an act involving sexual conduct causing arousal or |
|
gratification; or |
|
(3) a monetary benefit or other benefit of value. |
|
(c) A person commits an offense if the person intentionally |
|
threatens, including by coercion or extortion, to commit an offense |
|
under Chapter 19 or 20 or Section 20A.02(a)(1), (2), (5), or (6) to |
|
obtain, in return for not committing the threatened offense or in |
|
connection with the threatened offense, either of the following |
|
benefits: |
|
(1) intimate visual material; or |
|
(2) an act involving sexual conduct causing arousal or |
|
gratification. |
|
(d) This section applies to a threat regardless of how that |
|
threat is communicated, including a threat transmitted through |
|
e-mail or an Internet website, social media account, or chat room |
|
and a threat made by other electronic or technological means. |
|
(e) An offense under this section is a 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 defendant has previously |
|
been convicted of an offense under this section. |
|
SECTION 18. Sections 22.01(b) and (c), Penal Code, are |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(b) An offense under Subsection (a)(1) is a Class A |
|
misdemeanor, except that the offense is a felony of the third degree |
|
if the offense is committed against: |
|
(1) a person the actor knows is a public servant while |
|
the public servant is lawfully discharging an official duty, or in |
|
retaliation or on account of an exercise of official power or |
|
performance of an official duty as a public servant; |
|
(2) a person whose relationship to or association with |
|
the defendant is described by Section 71.0021(b), 71.003, or |
|
71.005, Family Code, if: |
|
(A) it is shown on the trial of the offense that |
|
the defendant has been previously convicted of an offense under |
|
this chapter, Chapter 19, or Section 20.03, 20.04, 21.11, or 25.11 |
|
against a person whose relationship to or association with the |
|
defendant is described by Section 71.0021(b), 71.003, or 71.005, |
|
Family Code; or |
|
(B) the offense is committed by intentionally, |
|
knowingly, or recklessly impeding the normal breathing or |
|
circulation of the blood of the person by applying pressure to the |
|
person's throat or neck or by blocking the person's nose or mouth; |
|
(3) a person who contracts with government to perform |
|
a service in a facility as defined by Section 1.07(a)(14), Penal |
|
Code, or Section 51.02(13) or (14), Family Code, or an employee of |
|
that person: |
|
(A) while the person or employee is engaged in |
|
performing a service within the scope of the contract, if the actor |
|
knows the person or employee is authorized by government to provide |
|
the service; or |
|
(B) in retaliation for or on account of the |
|
person's or employee's performance of a service within the scope of |
|
the contract; |
|
(4) a person the actor knows is a security officer |
|
while the officer is performing a duty as a security officer; [or] |
|
(5) a person the actor knows is emergency services |
|
personnel while the person is providing emergency services; or |
|
(6) a pregnant individual to force the individual to |
|
have an abortion. |
|
(c) An offense under Subsection (a)(2) or (3) is a Class C |
|
misdemeanor, except that the offense is: |
|
(1) a Class A misdemeanor if the offense is committed |
|
under Subsection (a)(3) against an elderly individual or disabled |
|
individual, as those terms are defined by Section 22.04; [or] |
|
(2) a Class B misdemeanor if the offense is committed |
|
by a person who is not a sports participant against a person the |
|
actor knows is a sports participant either: |
|
(A) while the participant is performing duties or |
|
responsibilities in the participant's capacity as a sports |
|
participant; or |
|
(B) in retaliation for or on account of the |
|
participant's performance of a duty or responsibility within the |
|
participant's capacity as a sports participant; or |
|
(3) a Class A misdemeanor if the offense is committed |
|
against a pregnant individual to force the individual to have an |
|
abortion. |
|
SECTION 19. Chapter 93, Property Code, is amended by adding |
|
Section 93.013 to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 93.013. CERTAIN UNLAWFUL USES OF PREMISES; TERMINATION |
|
OF TENANT'S RIGHT OF POSSESSION. (a) Notwithstanding a provision |
|
in a lease to the contrary, a tenant's right of possession |
|
terminates and the landlord has a right to recover possession of the |
|
leased premises if the tenant is using the premises or allowing the |
|
premises to be used for the purposes of prostitution, promotion of |
|
prostitution, aggravated promotion of prostitution, or compelling |
|
prostitution, as prohibited by the Penal Code, or trafficking of |
|
persons as described by Section 20A.02, Penal Code. |
|
(b) A landlord who reasonably believes a tenant is using the |
|
leased premises or allowing the leased premises to be used for a |
|
purpose described by Subsection (a) may file a forcible detainer |
|
suit under Chapter 24 seeking possession of the premises and unpaid |
|
rent, including rent for any period of occupancy after the tenant's |
|
right of possession terminates. |
|
(c) Notwithstanding Section 24.005 or 91.001 or any other |
|
law or a provision in the lease to the contrary, the landlord is not |
|
required for purposes of a forcible detainer suit authorized by |
|
this section: |
|
(1) to give a notice of proposed eviction or a notice |
|
of termination before giving notice to vacate; or |
|
(2) to give the tenant more than three days' notice to |
|
vacate before filing the suit. |
|
(d) A pending suit brought by the attorney general or a |
|
district, county, or city attorney under Chapter 125, Civil |
|
Practice and Remedies Code, alleging that a common nuisance is |
|
being maintained on the leased premises with respect to an activity |
|
described by Subsection (a) is prima facie evidence that the |
|
tenant's right of possession has terminated and the landlord has a |
|
right to recover possession of the premises under Subsection (a). |
|
(e) A final, nonappealable determination by a court under |
|
Chapter 125, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, that a common |
|
nuisance is being maintained on the leased premises with respect to |
|
an activity described by Subsection (a) creates an irrebuttable |
|
presumption that the tenant's right of possession has terminated |
|
and the landlord has a right to recover possession of the premises |
|
under Subsection (a). |
|
SECTION 20. Section 17.46(b), Business & Commerce Code, as |
|
amended by this Act, applies only to a cause of action that accrues |
|
on or after the effective date of this Act. A cause of action that |
|
accrued before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law |
|
in effect immediately before the effective date of this Act, and |
|
that law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
|
SECTION 21. Section 125.004, Civil Practice and Remedies |
|
Code, as amended by this Act, applies only to a cause of action that |
|
accrues on or after the effective date of this Act. A cause of |
|
action that accrues before the effective date of this Act is |
|
governed by the law applicable to the cause of action immediately |
|
before the effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in |
|
effect for that purpose. |
|
SECTION 22. (a) Not later than December 1, 2017, the |
|
executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission |
|
shall adopt the rules necessary to implement Sections 241.011 and |
|
245.025, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act. |
|
(b) A hospital or an abortion facility is not required to |
|
comply with Section 241.011 or 245.025, Health and Safety Code, as |
|
added by this Act, before January 1, 2018. |
|
SECTION 23. (a) Not later than March 1, 2018, the Texas |
|
Commission of Licensing and Regulation shall adopt rules as |
|
necessary to comply with Section 1602.354, Occupations Code, as |
|
amended by this Act. |
|
(b) Section 1602.354(c), Occupations Code, as added by this |
|
Act, and the rules adopted under Subsection (a) of this section |
|
apply only to a continuing education program provided on or after |
|
September 1, 2018. |
|
SECTION 24. (a) Not later than January 1, 2018, the Texas |
|
Commission of Licensing and Regulation shall adopt rules as |
|
necessary to implement Section 1602.408, Occupations Code, as added |
|
by this Act. |
|
(b) A licensed facility as defined by Section 1602.408(a), |
|
Occupations Code, as added by this Act, shall comply with Section |
|
1602.408, Occupations Code, as added by this Act, not later than |
|
February 1, 2018. |
|
SECTION 25. Sections 20A.02 and 22.01, Penal Code, as |
|
amended 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 that 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 was committed before that date. |
|
SECTION 26. Section 93.013, Property Code, as added by this |
|
Act, applies only to a lease entered into or renewed on or after the |
|
effective date of this Act. A lease entered into or renewed before |
|
the effective date of this Act is governed by the law applicable to |
|
the lease immediately before the effective date of this Act, and |
|
that law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
|
SECTION 27. To the extent of any conflict, this Act prevails |
|
over another Act of the 85th Legislature, Regular Session, 2017, |
|
relating to nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in enacted |
|
codes. |
|
SECTION 28. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |
|
|
|
______________________________ |
______________________________ |
|
President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
|
|
|
I certify that H.B. No. 2552 was passed by the House on May |
|
12, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 133, Nays 9, 1 present, not |
|
voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. |
|
No. 2552 on May 27, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 136, Nays 8, |
|
2 present, not voting. |
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
Chief Clerk of the House |
|
|
I certify that H.B. No. 2552 was passed by the Senate, with |
|
amendments, on May 22, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays |
|
0. |
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
Secretary of the Senate |
|
APPROVED: __________________ |
|
Date |
|
|
|
__________________ |
|
Governor |