|
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
relating to prostitution and the trafficking of persons, civil |
|
racketeering related to trafficking, the prosecution of and |
|
punishment for certain sexual offenses and offenses involving or |
|
related to trafficking, reimbursement of certain costs for criminal |
|
victims who are children, and the release and reporting of certain |
|
information relating to a child; increasing a criminal penalty; |
|
creating a criminal offense. |
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
SECTION 1. Chapter 140A, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, |
|
is amended by designating Sections 140A.001 and 140A.002 as |
|
Subchapter A and adding a subchapter heading to read as follows: |
|
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS |
|
SECTION 2. Section 140A.001, Civil Practice and Remedies |
|
Code, is amended by adding Subdivision (1-a) to read as follows: |
|
(1-a) "Attorney general" means the attorney general of |
|
Texas or any assistant attorney general acting under the direction |
|
of the attorney general of Texas. |
|
SECTION 3. Subchapter A, Chapter 140A, Civil Practice and |
|
Remedies Code, as added by this Act, is amended by adding Section |
|
140A.0015 to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 140A.0015. APPLICABILITY OF PROVISIONS. (a) The |
|
provisions of this chapter are cumulative of each other and any |
|
other provision of law in effect relating to the same subject. The |
|
provisions of this chapter preserve the constitutional and common |
|
law authority of the attorney general to bring any action under |
|
state and federal law. |
|
(b) If any of the provisions of this chapter are held |
|
invalid, the remainder of the provisions are not affected as a |
|
result and the application of the provision held invalid to persons |
|
or circumstances other than those as to which it is held invalid are |
|
not affected as a result. |
|
SECTION 4. Chapter 140A, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, |
|
is amended by adding Subchapter B to read as follows: |
|
SUBCHAPTER B. PROCEDURES AND EVIDENCE |
|
Sec. 140A.051. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
|
(1) "Civil investigative demand" means any demand |
|
issued by the attorney general under this subchapter. |
|
(2) "Documentary material" means the original or a |
|
copy of any paper, contract, agreement, book, booklet, brochure, |
|
pamphlet, catalog, magazine, notice, announcement, circular, |
|
bulletin, instruction, minutes, agenda, study, analysis, report, |
|
graph, map, chart, table, schedule, note, letter, telegram, |
|
telephone recordings, or data compilations stored in or accessible |
|
through computer or other information retrieval systems, together |
|
with instructions and all other materials necessary to use or |
|
interpret the data compilations, and any product of discovery. |
|
(3) "Person" has the meaning assigned by Section |
|
311.005, Government Code. |
|
(4) "Product of discovery" means: |
|
(A) the original or a copy of a deposition, |
|
interrogatory, document, thing, result of inspection of land or |
|
other property, examination, or admission that is obtained by any |
|
method of discovery in a judicial or administrative proceeding of |
|
an adversarial nature; |
|
(B) a digest, analysis, selection, compilation, |
|
or derivation of any item listed in Paragraph (A); and |
|
(C) an index, instruction, or other aid or means |
|
of access to any item listed in Paragraph (A). |
|
(5) "Racketeering investigation" means any inquiry |
|
conducted by the attorney general for the purpose of ascertaining |
|
whether any person is or has been engaged in or is actively |
|
preparing to engage in activities that may constitute a |
|
racketeering violation. |
|
(6) "Racketeering violation" means any act or omission |
|
in violation of any of the prohibitions in Section 140A.002. |
|
Sec. 140A.052. CIVIL INVESTIGATIVE DEMAND. If the attorney |
|
general has reason to believe that a person may be in possession, |
|
custody, or control of any documentary material or other evidence |
|
or may have any information relevant to a civil racketeering |
|
investigation, the attorney general may, before beginning a civil |
|
proceeding, issue in writing and serve on the person a civil |
|
investigative demand requiring the person to: |
|
(1) produce any of the documentary material for |
|
inspection and copying; |
|
(2) answer in writing any written interrogatories; |
|
(3) give oral testimony; or |
|
(4) provide any combination of civil investigative |
|
demands under Subdivisions (1)-(3). |
|
Sec. 140A.053. CONTENTS OF DEMAND. (a) A civil |
|
investigative demand issued under Section 140A.052 must: |
|
(1) describe the nature of the activities that are the |
|
subject of the investigation; |
|
(2) state each statute the activity violates; and |
|
(3) advise the person on whom the demand is served that |
|
the person has the right to object to the demand as provided for in |
|
this subchapter. |
|
(b) A demand for production of documentary material must: |
|
(1) describe the class of material to be produced with |
|
reasonable specificity so that the material demanded is fairly |
|
identified; |
|
(2) prescribe a return date that provides a reasonable |
|
period of time within which the material is to be produced; and |
|
(3) identify the individual to whom the material is to |
|
be made available for inspection and copying. |
|
(c) A demand for answers to written interrogatories must: |
|
(1) propound the interrogatories with definiteness |
|
and certainty; |
|
(2) prescribe a date by which answers to the |
|
interrogatories must be submitted; and |
|
(3) identify the individual to whom the answers should |
|
be submitted. |
|
(d) Each demand for the giving of oral testimony must: |
|
(1) prescribe a reasonable date, time, and place at |
|
which the testimony will begin; and |
|
(2) identify the individual who will conduct the |
|
examination. |
|
Sec. 140A.054. SERVICE; PROOF OF SERVICE. (a) Service of |
|
any civil investigative demand or petition filed under Section |
|
140A.055 or 140A.060 may be made on any natural person by delivering |
|
a duly executed copy of the demand or petition to the person to be |
|
served or by mailing a copy by registered or certified mail, return |
|
receipt requested, to the person at the person's residence or |
|
principal office or place of business. |
|
(b) Service of any demand or petition filed under Section |
|
140A.055 or 140A.060 may be made on any person other than a natural |
|
person by delivering a duly executed copy of the demand or petition |
|
to a person to whom delivery would be appropriate under state law if |
|
the demand or petition were process in a civil suit. |
|
(c) A verified return by the individual serving any demand |
|
or petition filed under Section 140A.055 or 140A.060 setting forth |
|
the manner of service is proof of service. In the case of service by |
|
registered or certified mail, the return must be accompanied by the |
|
return post office receipt of delivery of the demand or petition. |
|
Sec. 140A.055. PETITION FOR ORDER MODIFYING OR SETTING |
|
ASIDE DEMAND. (a) At any time before the return date specified in a |
|
civil investigative demand or not later than the 30th day after the |
|
date the demand was served, whichever period is shorter, the person |
|
who has been served, and in the case of a demand for a product of |
|
discovery the person from whom the discovery was obtained, may file |
|
a petition for an order modifying or setting aside the demand in the |
|
district court in the county of the person's residence or principal |
|
office or place of business or a district court of Travis County. |
|
The petition must specify each ground upon which the petitioner |
|
relies in seeking the relief sought. The petition may be based on |
|
any failure of a demand to comply with the provisions of this |
|
subchapter or on any constitutional or other legal right or |
|
privilege of the petitioner. |
|
(b) The petitioner shall serve a copy of the petition on the |
|
attorney general in accordance with Section 140A.054. The attorney |
|
general may submit an answer to the petition. |
|
(c) In ruling on the petition under this section, the court |
|
shall presume absent evidence to the contrary that the attorney |
|
general issued the demand in good faith and within the scope of the |
|
attorney general's authority. |
|
Sec. 140A.056. COMPLIANCE WITH DEMAND. (a) A person on |
|
whom a civil investigative demand is served under this subchapter |
|
shall comply with the terms of the demand unless otherwise provided |
|
by court order. |
|
(b) The time for compliance with the demand wholly or partly |
|
does not run during the pendency of any petition filed under Section |
|
140A.055, provided that the petitioner shall comply with any |
|
portions of the demand not sought to be modified or set aside. |
|
Sec. 140A.057. DOCUMENTARY MATERIAL. (a) Any person on |
|
whom any civil investigative demand for the production of |
|
documentary material has been duly served under this subchapter |
|
shall make the material available to the attorney general for |
|
inspection and copying during normal business hours on the return |
|
date specified in the demand at the person's principal office or |
|
place of business or as otherwise may be agreed on by the person and |
|
the attorney general. The attorney general shall bear the expense |
|
of any copying. The person may substitute copies for originals of |
|
all or part of the requested documents if the originals are made |
|
available for inspection. The attorney general may elect to obtain |
|
or review information in an electronic format. The person shall |
|
indicate in writing which, if any, of the documents produced |
|
contain trade secrets or confidential information. |
|
(b) The production of documentary material in response to |
|
any demand must be made under a sworn certificate in the form the |
|
demand designates by a natural person having knowledge of the facts |
|
and circumstances relating to the production to the effect that all |
|
of the requested material in the possession, custody, or control of |
|
the person to whom the demand is directed has been produced. |
|
Sec. 140A.058. INTERROGATORIES. (a) Each interrogatory in |
|
any civil investigative demand duly served must be answered |
|
separately and fully in writing, unless it is objected to, in which |
|
case the basis for the objection shall be set forth in lieu of an |
|
answer. The person shall indicate in writing which, if any, of the |
|
answers contain trade secrets or confidential information. |
|
(b) Answers to interrogatories must be submitted under a |
|
sworn certificate in the form the related demand designates by a |
|
natural person having knowledge of the facts and circumstances |
|
relating to the preparation of the answers to the effect that all of |
|
the requested information in the possession, custody, control, or |
|
knowledge of the person to whom the demand is directed has been set |
|
forth fully and accurately. |
|
Sec. 140A.059. ORAL EXAMINATION. (a) The examination of |
|
any person pursuant to a civil investigative demand for oral |
|
testimony duly served must be taken before any person authorized to |
|
administer oaths and affirmations under the laws of this state or |
|
the United States. The person before whom the testimony is to be |
|
taken shall put the witness on oath or affirmation and shall |
|
personally or by someone acting under the person's direction and in |
|
the person's presence record the witness's testimony. At the |
|
expense of the attorney general, and except as provided by this |
|
subsection, the testimony must be taken stenographically and may be |
|
transcribed. The attorney general may take audio and video |
|
recordings of the testimony by providing notice to the person to be |
|
examined not later than the seventh day before the day the person is |
|
to be examined. |
|
(b) The oral testimony of any person taken pursuant to a |
|
demand served must be taken within 100 miles of the county where the |
|
person resides, is found, or transacts business or in any other |
|
place agreed on by the person and the attorney general. |
|
(c) Any person compelled to appear under a demand for oral |
|
testimony may be accompanied, represented, and advised by counsel. |
|
Counsel may advise the person in confidence, either on the request |
|
of the person or on the counsel's own initiative, with respect to |
|
any question arising in connection with the examination. |
|
(d) The individual conducting the examination on behalf of |
|
the attorney general shall exclude from the place of examination |
|
all other persons except the person being examined, the person's |
|
counsel, the counsel of the person to whom the demand has been |
|
issued, the person before whom the testimony is to be taken, any |
|
stenographer taking the testimony, audiographer, videographer, and |
|
any person assisting the individual conducting the examination. |
|
(e) During the examination, the person being examined or the |
|
person's counsel may object on the record to any question in |
|
accordance with Rule 199.5(e), Texas Rules of Civil Procedure. An |
|
objection may properly be made, received, and entered on the record |
|
when it is claimed that the person is entitled to refuse to answer |
|
the question on grounds of any constitutional or other privilege, |
|
including the privilege against self-incrimination. Neither that |
|
person nor the person's counsel may otherwise object to or refuse to |
|
answer any question or interrupt the oral examination. If the |
|
person refuses to answer any question, the attorney general may |
|
petition the district court in the county where the examination is |
|
being conducted for an order compelling the person to answer the |
|
question. |
|
(f) After the testimony has been fully transcribed, the |
|
person before whom the testimony was taken shall promptly transmit |
|
the transcript of the testimony to the witness and a copy of the |
|
transcript to the attorney general. The witness must have a |
|
reasonable opportunity to examine the transcript and make any |
|
changes in form or substance accompanied by a statement of the |
|
reasons for the changes. The witness shall then sign and return the |
|
transcript. If the witness does not return the transcript to the |
|
person before whom the testimony was taken not later than the 20th |
|
day after the date the transcript was provided to the witness, the |
|
witness may be deemed to have waived the right to make changes. The |
|
officer shall then certify on the transcript that the witness was |
|
duly sworn and that the transcript is a true record of the testimony |
|
given by the witness and promptly transmit a copy of the certified |
|
transcript to the attorney general. |
|
(g) On request, the attorney general shall furnish a copy of |
|
the certified transcript to the witness. |
|
(h) The attorney general may provide the witness the same |
|
fees and mileage reimbursement that are paid to witnesses in the |
|
district courts of this state. |
|
Sec. 140A.060. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH DEMAND PETITION FOR |
|
ENFORCEMENT. If a person fails to comply with a civil investigative |
|
demand duly served on the person, the attorney general may file in |
|
the district court in the county in which the person resides, is |
|
found, or transacts business or in a district court of Travis County |
|
and may serve on the person a petition for an order of the court for |
|
enforcement. If the person transacts business in more than one |
|
county and the attorney general elects not to file the petition in |
|
Travis County, the petition must be filed in the county of the |
|
person's principal office or place of business in the state or in |
|
any other county as may be agreed on by the person and the attorney |
|
general. |
|
Sec. 140A.061. DELIBERATE NONCOMPLIANCE. (a) A person |
|
commits an offense if the person, with intent to avoid, evade, or |
|
prevent compliance with a civil investigative demand issued under |
|
this subchapter, knowingly removes from any place, conceals, |
|
withholds, destroys, mutilates, alters, or by any other means |
|
falsifies any documentary material or otherwise provides |
|
inaccurate information. |
|
(b) An offense under this section is a misdemeanor |
|
punishable by: |
|
(1) a fine of not more than $5,000; |
|
(2) confinement in a county jail for not more than one |
|
year; or |
|
(3) both a fine and confinement. |
|
Sec. 140A.062. DISCLOSURE AND USE OF MATERIAL AND |
|
INFORMATION. (a) The civil investigative demand issued by the |
|
attorney general, any information obtained, maintained, or created |
|
in response to the demand, or any documentary material, product of |
|
discovery, or other record derived or created during an |
|
investigation from the information, is not subject to disclosure |
|
under Chapter 552, Government Code, and is not subject to |
|
disclosure, discovery, subpoena, or other means of legal compulsion |
|
for the release, except as described in Subsections (b) and (c). |
|
(b) The attorney general may not release or disclose |
|
information that is obtained in response to a demand or any |
|
documentary material, product of discovery, or other record derived |
|
from the information except: |
|
(1) by court order for good cause shown; |
|
(2) with the consent of the person who provided the |
|
information to the attorney general; |
|
(3) to an employee or other person under the direction |
|
of the attorney general; |
|
(4) to an agency of this state, the United States, or |
|
another state or foreign country; |
|
(5) to any party or person in accordance with Sections |
|
140A.107 and 140A.108; |
|
(6) to a political subdivision of this state; or |
|
(7) to a person authorized by the attorney general to |
|
receive the information. |
|
(c) The attorney general may use information obtained in |
|
response to a demand, or any documentary material, product of |
|
discovery, or other record derived or created from the information |
|
as the attorney general determines necessary in the enforcement of |
|
this chapter, including presentation before court. |
|
Sec. 140A.063. JURISDICTION. If a petition is filed in the |
|
district court in any county, the court has jurisdiction to hear and |
|
determine the matter presented and to enter any order required to |
|
implement this chapter. Any final order is subject to appeal. |
|
Failure to comply with any final order entered by a court under this |
|
chapter is punishable by the court as contempt of the order. |
|
Sec. 140A.064. NONEXCLUSIVE PROCEDURES. Nothing in this |
|
chapter precludes the attorney general from using any procedure not |
|
specified in this chapter in conducting a racketeering |
|
investigation. |
|
SECTION 5. Chapter 140A, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, |
|
is amended by adding Subchapter C and adding a subchapter heading to |
|
read as follows: |
|
SUBCHAPTER C. ENFORCEMENT |
|
SECTION 6. Sections 140A.003 through 140A.013, Civil |
|
Practice and Remedies Code, are transferred to Subchapter C, |
|
Chapter 140A, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, as added by this |
|
Act, redesignated as Sections 140A.101 through 140A.111, Civil |
|
Practice and Remedies Code, and amended to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 140A.101 [140A.003]. SUIT TO ABATE RACKETEERING. (a) |
|
The attorney general may bring suit in the name of the state against |
|
a person or enterprise for racketeering and may seek civil |
|
penalties, costs, reasonable attorney's fees, and appropriate |
|
injunctive relief. |
|
(b) This chapter does not authorize suit by a person or |
|
enterprise that sustains injury as a result of racketeering. |
|
(c) A suit under this chapter must be brought in a district |
|
court in a county in which all or part of the alleged racketeering |
|
offense giving rise to the suit occurred. |
|
Sec. 140A.102 [140A.004]. INJUNCTIVE RELIEF; OTHER |
|
REMEDIES. (a) A court in which a proceeding is brought under this |
|
chapter may prevent, restrain, and remedy racketeering by issuing |
|
appropriate orders. The orders may include a temporary restraining |
|
order, a temporary or permanent injunction, the creation of a |
|
receivership, and the enforcement of a constructive trust in |
|
connection with any property or other interest, prejudgment writs |
|
of attachment under Chapter 61 for the purposes of freezing, |
|
preserving, and disgorging assets, or another order for a remedy or |
|
restraint the court considers proper. |
|
(b) Following a final determination of liability under this |
|
chapter, the court may issue an appropriate order, including an |
|
order that: |
|
(1) requires a person to divest any direct or indirect |
|
interest in an enterprise; |
|
(2) imposes reasonable restrictions on the future |
|
activities or investments of a person that affect the laws of this |
|
state, including prohibiting a person from engaging in the type of |
|
endeavor or enterprise that gave rise to the racketeering offense, |
|
to the extent permitted by the constitutions of this state and the |
|
United States; |
|
(3) requires the dissolution or reorganization of an |
|
enterprise involved in the suit; |
|
(4) orders the recovery of reasonable fees, expenses, |
|
and costs incurred in obtaining injunctive relief or civil remedies |
|
or in conducting investigations under this chapter, including court |
|
costs, investigation costs, attorney's fees, witness fees, and |
|
deposition fees; |
|
(5) orders payment to the state of an amount equal to: |
|
(A) the gain acquired or maintained through |
|
racketeering; or |
|
(B) the amount for which a person is liable under |
|
this chapter; |
|
(6) orders payment to the state of a civil penalty by a |
|
person or enterprise found liable for racketeering, in an amount |
|
not to exceed $250,000 for each separately alleged and proven act of |
|
racketeering; |
|
(7) orders payment of damages to the state for |
|
racketeering shown to have materially damaged the state; or |
|
(8) orders that property attached under Chapter 61 be |
|
used to satisfy an award of the court, including damages, |
|
penalties, costs, and fees. |
|
(c) In determining the amount of a civil penalty ordered |
|
under Subsection (b)(6), the court shall consider: |
|
(1) the seriousness of the racketeering offense and |
|
the consequent financial or personal harm to the state or to any |
|
identified victim; [and] |
|
(2) the duration of the racketeering activity; and |
|
(3) any other matter that justice requires. |
|
(d) If any property attached under Chapter 61 is not |
|
necessary to satisfy an award of the court after a finding of |
|
liability for racketeering of the person or enterprise having an |
|
interest in the property, the court may order that the property be |
|
disgorged to the state to the extent of the person's or enterprise's |
|
interest. To be disgorged, the property must be acquired or |
|
maintained by the person or enterprise through racketeering. |
|
(e) In determining the amount of damages ordered under |
|
Subsection (b)(7), the court shall consider: |
|
(1) loss of tax revenue to the state; |
|
(2) unpaid state unemployment taxes; |
|
(3) unpaid state licensing and regulatory fees; |
|
(4) medical and counseling costs incurred by the state |
|
on behalf of any victim of the racketeering; and |
|
(5) other material damage caused to the state by the |
|
racketeering. |
|
(f) Except as otherwise provided by this chapter, remedies |
|
and awards ordered by a court under this chapter, including costs |
|
and reasonable attorney's fees, may be assessed against and paid |
|
from money or property awarded under this chapter. |
|
(g) This chapter is not intended to provide the exclusive |
|
remedy for the activity addressed by this chapter. A proceeding |
|
under this chapter may be brought in addition to or in the |
|
alternative of any other civil or criminal action available under |
|
the laws of this state. |
|
(h) Notwithstanding any other provision in this chapter, |
|
Articles 59.13 and 59.14, Code of Criminal Procedure, apply to a |
|
remedy under this section. |
|
(i) A remedy under this section may not impair a security |
|
interest in property subject to a bona fide lien. |
|
Sec. 140A.103 [140A.005]. CONSTRUCTIVE TRUST. (a) A |
|
person or enterprise that, through racketeering, acquires property |
|
or prevents another person from receiving property that by law is |
|
required to be transferred or paid to that person is an involuntary |
|
trustee. The involuntary trustee or any other person or |
|
enterprise, other than a bona fide purchaser for value as described |
|
by Subsection (b), holds the property and the proceeds of the |
|
property in constructive trust for the benefit of any person |
|
entitled to remedies under this chapter. |
|
(b) A bona fide purchaser for value who was reasonably |
|
without notice of unlawful conduct and who did not knowingly take |
|
part in an illegal transaction is not an involuntary trustee under |
|
Subsection (a) and is not subject to a constructive trust imposed |
|
under this chapter. |
|
Sec. 140A.104 [140A.006]. EVIDENCE. (a) In a proceeding |
|
under this chapter, the state bears the burden of proof by a |
|
preponderance of the evidence. |
|
(b) A person convicted in a criminal proceeding is |
|
precluded, in a proceeding under this chapter, from subsequently |
|
denying the essential allegations of the criminal offense of which |
|
the person was convicted. For purposes of this subsection, a |
|
verdict or a plea, including a plea of nolo contendere, is |
|
considered a conviction. |
|
(c) An individual may not be held liable under this chapter |
|
based on the conduct of another person unless the finder of fact |
|
finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the individual |
|
authorized, requested, commanded, participated in, ratified, or |
|
recklessly tolerated the unlawful conduct of the other person. |
|
(d) An enterprise may not be held liable under this chapter |
|
based on the conduct of an agent unless the finder of fact finds by a |
|
preponderance of the evidence that a director or high managerial |
|
agent performed, authorized, requested, commanded, participated |
|
in, ratified, or recklessly tolerated the unlawful conduct of the |
|
agent. |
|
(e) A bank or savings and loan association insured by the |
|
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, a credit union insured by |
|
the National Credit Union Administration, or the holder of a money |
|
transmission license as defined by Chapter 151, Finance Code, may |
|
not be held liable in damages or for other relief under this |
|
chapter, unless the finder of fact finds by a preponderance of the |
|
evidence that the person or agent acquiring or maintaining an |
|
interest in or transporting, transacting, transferring, or |
|
receiving the funds on behalf of another did so knowing that the |
|
funds were the proceeds of an offense and that a director or high |
|
managerial agent performed, authorized, requested, commanded, |
|
participated in, ratified, or recklessly tolerated the unlawful |
|
conduct of the person or agent. |
|
Sec. 140A.105 [140A.007]. LIMITATIONS PERIOD. A |
|
proceeding may be commenced under this chapter only if the |
|
proceeding is filed on or before the seventh anniversary of the date |
|
on which the racketeering offense was actually discovered. This |
|
section supersedes any conflicting provision establishing a |
|
shorter period of limitations for the same conduct. |
|
Sec. 140A.106 [140A.008]. SPECIAL DOCKETING PROCEDURES. |
|
The attorney general may file with the clerk of the district court |
|
in which a proceeding is brought under this chapter a certificate |
|
stating that the case is of special public importance. The clerk |
|
must immediately furnish a copy of the certificate to the |
|
administrative judge of the district court of the county in which |
|
the proceeding is pending. On receiving the copy of the |
|
certificate, the administrative judge shall immediately designate |
|
a judge to hear and determine the proceeding. The designated judge |
|
shall promptly assign the proceeding for hearing, participate in |
|
hearings, make determinations, and cause the action to be |
|
expedited. |
|
Sec. 140A.107 [140A.009]. NOTICE TO LOCAL PROSECUTOR. (a) |
|
In a reasonable time before initiating suit or on initiating an |
|
investigation on racketeering, the attorney general shall provide |
|
notice to the district attorney, criminal district attorney, or |
|
county attorney with felony criminal jurisdiction that appears to |
|
have primary jurisdiction over the criminal prosecution of any |
|
target of an investigation under this chapter at the time of the |
|
notice concerning the attorney general's intent to file suit under |
|
this chapter or investigate racketeering, as applicable. |
|
(b) The notices described by Subsection (a) must describe or |
|
otherwise identify the defendant to the suit or the suspect, as |
|
applicable. |
|
Sec. 140A.108 [140A.010]. COOPERATION WITH LOCAL |
|
PROSECUTOR. (a) A district attorney, criminal district attorney, |
|
or county attorney with felony criminal jurisdiction that receives |
|
notice under Section 140A.107 [140A.009] may notify the attorney |
|
general of a related pending criminal investigation or prosecution. |
|
(b) Notification to the attorney general under Subsection |
|
(a) must be in writing and describe or otherwise identify the |
|
defendant or suspect in the criminal investigation or proceeding. |
|
(c) On receipt of notice described by Subsection (a), the |
|
attorney general shall coordinate and cooperate with the district |
|
attorney, criminal district attorney, or county attorney with |
|
felony criminal jurisdiction to ensure that the filing of a suit |
|
under this chapter does not interfere with an ongoing criminal |
|
investigation or prosecution. The attorney general shall update |
|
the district attorney, criminal district attorney, or county |
|
attorney with felony criminal jurisdiction on matters affecting the |
|
suit or the investigation. |
|
Sec. 140A.109 [140A.011]. ABATEMENT OF SUIT. If the |
|
district attorney, criminal district attorney, or county attorney |
|
with felony criminal jurisdiction determines that a suit brought |
|
under this chapter would interfere with an ongoing criminal |
|
investigation or prosecution after notifying the attorney general |
|
of the investigation or prosecution under Section 140A.108 |
|
[140A.010], the district attorney, criminal district attorney, or |
|
county attorney with felony criminal jurisdiction may request, in |
|
writing, that the attorney general abate the suit. On receipt of |
|
this request, the attorney general shall abate the suit. |
|
Sec. 140A.110 [140A.012]. DISPOSITION OF ASSETS. (a) An |
|
award issued in an action brought under this chapter must be paid in |
|
accordance with this section. |
|
(b) After a deduction of any costs of suit, including |
|
reasonable attorney's fees and court costs, 80 percent of the |
|
amount of the award remaining must be paid to the state, and the |
|
remaining 20 percent must be paid, on a pro rata basis, to each law |
|
enforcement agency, district attorney's office, criminal district |
|
attorney's office, and office of a county attorney with felony |
|
criminal jurisdiction found by the court to have assisted in the |
|
suit. |
|
(c) The first $10 million, after any costs of suit described |
|
by Subsection (b), that is paid to the state under this chapter in a |
|
fiscal year shall be dedicated to the compensation to victims of |
|
crime fund described by Article 56.54, Code of Criminal Procedure. |
|
Sec. 140A.111 [140A.013]. PREVIOUSLY SEIZED ASSETS. |
|
Notwithstanding another provision of this chapter, no remedies |
|
provided by this chapter may be assessed against proceeds, |
|
contraband, or other property over which a law enforcement agency |
|
has previously asserted jurisdiction under Chapter 59, Code of |
|
Criminal Procedure, at the time a suit under this chapter was filed. |
|
SECTION 7. Article 45.0216(f), Code of Criminal Procedure, |
|
is amended to read as follows: |
|
(f) The court shall order the conviction, together with all |
|
complaints, verdicts, sentences, and prosecutorial and law |
|
enforcement records, and any other documents relating to the |
|
offense, expunged from the person's record if the court finds that: |
|
(1) for a person applying for the expunction of a |
|
conviction for an offense described by Section 8.07(a)(4) or (5), |
|
Penal Code, the person was not convicted of any other offense |
|
described by Section 8.07(a)(4) or (5), Penal Code, while the |
|
person was a child; and |
|
(2) for a person applying for the expunction of a |
|
conviction for an offense described by Section 43.261, Penal Code, |
|
the person was not found to have engaged in conduct indicating a |
|
need for supervision described by Section 51.03(b)(6) |
|
[51.03(b)(7)], Family Code, while the person was a child. |
|
SECTION 8. Article 56.32(a)(9), Code of Criminal Procedure, |
|
is amended to read as follows: |
|
(9) "Pecuniary loss" means the amount of expense |
|
reasonably and necessarily incurred as a result of personal injury |
|
or death for: |
|
(A) medical, hospital, nursing, or psychiatric |
|
care or counseling, or physical therapy; |
|
(B) actual loss of past earnings and anticipated |
|
loss of future earnings and necessary travel expenses because of: |
|
(i) a disability resulting from the |
|
personal injury; |
|
(ii) the receipt of medically indicated |
|
services related to the disability resulting from the personal |
|
injury; or |
|
(iii) participation in or attendance at |
|
investigative, prosecutorial, or judicial processes related to the |
|
criminally injurious conduct and participation in or attendance at |
|
any postconviction or postadjudication proceeding relating to |
|
criminally injurious conduct; |
|
(C) care of a child or dependent, including |
|
specialized care for a child who is a victim; |
|
(D) funeral and burial expenses, including, for |
|
an immediate family member or household member of the victim, the |
|
necessary expenses of traveling to and attending the funeral; |
|
(E) loss of support to a dependent, consistent |
|
with Article 56.41(b)(5); |
|
(F) reasonable and necessary costs of cleaning |
|
the crime scene; |
|
(G) reasonable replacement costs for clothing, |
|
bedding, or property of the victim seized as evidence or rendered |
|
unusable as a result of the criminal investigation; |
|
(H) reasonable and necessary costs for |
|
relocation and housing rental assistance payments as provided by |
|
Article 56.42(d); |
|
(I) for an immediate family member or household |
|
member of a deceased victim, bereavement leave of not more than 10 |
|
work days; and |
|
(J) reasonable and necessary costs of traveling |
|
to and from a place of execution for the purpose of witnessing the |
|
execution, including one night's lodging near the place at which |
|
the execution is conducted. |
|
SECTION 9. Article 62.001(5), Code of Criminal Procedure, |
|
is amended to read as follows: |
|
(5) "Reportable conviction or adjudication" means a |
|
conviction or adjudication, including an adjudication of |
|
delinquent conduct or a deferred adjudication, that, regardless of |
|
the pendency of an appeal, is a conviction for or an adjudication |
|
for or based on: |
|
(A) a violation of Section 21.02 (Continuous |
|
sexual abuse of young child or children), 21.11 (Indecency with a |
|
child), 22.011 (Sexual assault), 22.021 (Aggravated sexual |
|
assault), or 25.02 (Prohibited sexual conduct), Penal Code; |
|
(B) a violation of Section 43.05 (Compelling |
|
prostitution), 43.25 (Sexual performance by a child), or 43.26 |
|
(Possession or promotion of child pornography), Penal Code; |
|
(B-1) a violation of Section 43.02 |
|
(Prostitution), Penal Code, if the offense is punishable under |
|
Subsection (c-1)(3) [(c)(3)] of that section; |
|
(C) a violation of Section 20.04(a)(4) |
|
(Aggravated kidnapping), Penal Code, if the actor committed the |
|
offense or engaged in the conduct with intent to violate or abuse |
|
the victim sexually; |
|
(D) a violation of Section 30.02 (Burglary), |
|
Penal Code, if the offense or conduct is punishable under |
|
Subsection (d) of that section and the actor committed the offense |
|
or engaged in the conduct with intent to commit a felony listed in |
|
Paragraph (A) or (C); |
|
(E) a violation of Section 20.02 (Unlawful |
|
restraint), 20.03 (Kidnapping), or 20.04 (Aggravated kidnapping), |
|
Penal Code, if, as applicable: |
|
(i) the judgment in the case contains an |
|
affirmative finding under Article 42.015; or |
|
(ii) the order in the hearing or the papers |
|
in the case contain an affirmative finding that the victim or |
|
intended victim was younger than 17 years of age; |
|
(F) the second violation of Section 21.08 |
|
(Indecent exposure), Penal Code, but not if the second violation |
|
results in a deferred adjudication; |
|
(G) an attempt, conspiracy, or solicitation, as |
|
defined by Chapter 15, Penal Code, to commit an offense or engage in |
|
conduct listed in Paragraph (A), (B), (C), (D), (E), [or] (K), or |
|
(L); |
|
(H) a violation of the laws of another state, |
|
federal law, the laws of a foreign country, or the Uniform Code of |
|
Military Justice for or based on the violation of an offense |
|
containing elements that are substantially similar to the elements |
|
of an offense listed under Paragraph (A), (B), (B-1), (C), (D), (E), |
|
(G), (J), [or] (K), or (L), but not if the violation results in a |
|
deferred adjudication; |
|
(I) the second violation of the laws of another |
|
state, federal law, the laws of a foreign country, or the Uniform |
|
Code of Military Justice for or based on the violation of an offense |
|
containing elements that are substantially similar to the elements |
|
of the offense of indecent exposure, but not if the second violation |
|
results in a deferred adjudication; |
|
(J) a violation of Section 33.021 (Online |
|
solicitation of a minor), Penal Code; [or] |
|
(K) a violation of Section 20A.02(a)(3), (4), |
|
(7), or (8) (Trafficking of persons), Penal Code; or |
|
(L) a violation of Section 20A.03 (Continuous |
|
trafficking of persons), Penal Code, if the offense is based partly |
|
or wholly on conduct that constitutes an offense under Section |
|
20A.02(a)(3), (4), (7), or (8) of that code. |
|
SECTION 10. Article 62.101(a), Code of Criminal Procedure, |
|
is amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) and Subchapter I, |
|
the duty to register for a person ends when the person dies if the |
|
person has a reportable conviction or adjudication, other than an |
|
adjudication of delinquent conduct, for: |
|
(1) a sexually violent offense; |
|
(2) an offense under Section 20A.02(a)(3), (4), (7), |
|
or (8), 25.02, 43.05(a)(2), or 43.26, Penal Code; |
|
(3) an offense under Section 20A.03, Penal Code, if |
|
based partly or wholly on conduct that constitutes an offense under |
|
Section 20A.02(a)(3), (4), (7), or (8) of that code; |
|
(4) an offense under Section 21.11(a)(2), Penal Code, |
|
if before or after the person is convicted or adjudicated for the |
|
offense under Section 21.11(a)(2), Penal Code, the person receives |
|
or has received another reportable conviction or adjudication, |
|
other than an adjudication of delinquent conduct, for an offense or |
|
conduct that requires registration under this chapter; |
|
(5) [(4)] an offense under Section 20.02, 20.03, or |
|
20.04, Penal Code, if: |
|
(A) the judgment in the case contains an |
|
affirmative finding under Article 42.015 or, for a deferred |
|
adjudication, the papers in the case contain an affirmative finding |
|
that the victim or intended victim was younger than 17 years of age; |
|
and |
|
(B) before or after the person is convicted or |
|
adjudicated for the offense under Section 20.02, 20.03, or 20.04, |
|
Penal Code, the person receives or has received another reportable |
|
conviction or adjudication, other than an adjudication of |
|
delinquent conduct, for an offense or conduct that requires |
|
registration under this chapter; or |
|
(6) [(5)] an offense under Section 43.23, Penal Code, |
|
that is punishable under Subsection (h) of that section. |
|
SECTION 11. Subchapter A, Chapter 130, Education Code, is |
|
amended by adding Section 130.0105 to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 130.0105. COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE TRAINING |
|
PROGRAM; CERTAIN CURRICULUM REQUIREMENTS. (a) The Texas Higher |
|
Education Coordinating Board by rule shall require each public |
|
junior college offering a commercial driver's license training |
|
program to include as a part of that program education and training |
|
on the recognition and prevention of human trafficking. |
|
(b) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, in |
|
collaboration with the office of the attorney general, shall |
|
establish the content of the education and training required by |
|
this section. |
|
SECTION 12. Subchapter A, Chapter 132, Education Code, is |
|
amended by adding Section 132.006 to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 132.006. COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE TRAINING |
|
PROGRAM; CERTAIN CURRICULUM REQUIREMENTS. (a) The commission by |
|
rule shall require each career school or college offering a |
|
commercial driver's license training program to include as a part |
|
of that program education and training on the recognition and |
|
prevention of human trafficking. |
|
(b) The commission, in collaboration with the office of the |
|
attorney general, shall establish the content of the education and |
|
training required by this section. |
|
SECTION 13. Section 51.03(b), Family Code, as amended by |
|
Chapters 935 (H.B. 2398), 944 (S.B. 206), and 1273 (S.B. 825), Acts |
|
of the 84th Legislature, Regular Session, 2015, is reenacted and |
|
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 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; |
|
(3) 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; |
|
(4) 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; |
|
(5) [(6)] notwithstanding Subsection (a)(1), conduct |
|
described by Section 43.02(a) or (b), Penal Code; or |
|
(6) [(7)] notwithstanding Subsection (a)(1), conduct |
|
that violates Section 43.261, Penal Code. |
|
SECTION 14. Section 51.13(e), Family Code, is amended to |
|
read as follows: |
|
(e) A finding that a child engaged in conduct indicating a |
|
need for supervision as described by Section 51.03(b)(6) |
|
[51.03(b)(7)] is a conviction only for the purposes of Sections |
|
43.261(c) and (d), Penal Code. |
|
SECTION 15. Section 54.0404(a), Family Code, is amended to |
|
read as follows: |
|
(a) If a child is found to have engaged in conduct |
|
indicating a need for supervision described by Section 51.03(b)(6) |
|
[51.03(b)(7)], the juvenile court may enter an order requiring the |
|
child to attend and successfully complete an educational program |
|
described by Section 37.218, Education Code, or another equivalent |
|
educational program. |
|
SECTION 16. Section 58.003(c-3), Family Code, is amended to |
|
read as follows: |
|
(c-3) Notwithstanding Subsections (a) and (c) and subject |
|
to Subsection (b), a juvenile court, on the court's own motion and |
|
without a hearing, shall order the sealing of records concerning a |
|
child found to have engaged in conduct indicating a need for |
|
supervision described by Section 51.03(b)(5) [51.03(b)(6)] or |
|
taken into custody to determine whether the child engaged in |
|
conduct indicating a need for supervision described by Section |
|
51.03(b)(5) [51.03(b)(6)]. This subsection applies only to |
|
records related to conduct indicating a need for supervision |
|
described by Section 51.03(b)(5) [51.03(b)(6)]. |
|
SECTION 17. Section 23.101(a), Government Code, is amended |
|
to read as follows: |
|
(a) The trial courts of this state shall regularly and |
|
frequently set hearings and trials of pending matters, giving |
|
preference to hearings and trials of the following: |
|
(1) temporary injunctions; |
|
(2) criminal actions, with the following actions given |
|
preference over other criminal actions: |
|
(A) criminal actions against defendants who are |
|
detained in jail pending trial; |
|
(B) criminal actions involving a charge that a |
|
person committed an act of family violence, as defined by Section |
|
71.004, Family Code; |
|
(C) an offense under: |
|
(i) Section 21.02 or 21.11, Penal Code; |
|
(ii) Chapter 22, Penal Code, if the victim |
|
of the alleged offense is younger than 17 years of age; |
|
(iii) Section 25.02, Penal Code, if the |
|
victim of the alleged offense is younger than 17 years of age; |
|
(iv) Section 25.06, Penal Code; |
|
(v) Section 43.25, Penal Code; or |
|
(vi) Section 20A.02(a)(7), 20A.02(a)(8), |
|
or 20A.03, Penal Code; |
|
(D) an offense described by Article 62.001(6)(C) |
|
or (D), Code of Criminal Procedure; and |
|
(E) criminal actions against persons who are |
|
detained as provided by Section 51.12, Family Code, after transfer |
|
for prosecution in criminal court under Section 54.02, Family Code; |
|
(3) election contests and suits under the Election |
|
Code; |
|
(4) orders for the protection of the family under |
|
Subtitle B, Title 4, Family Code; |
|
(5) appeals of final rulings and decisions of the |
|
division of workers' compensation of the Texas Department of |
|
Insurance regarding workers' compensation claims and claims under |
|
the Federal Employers' Liability Act and the Jones Act; |
|
(6) appeals of final orders of the commissioner of the |
|
General Land Office under Section 51.3021, Natural Resources Code; |
|
(7) actions in which the claimant has been diagnosed |
|
with malignant mesothelioma, other malignant asbestos-related |
|
cancer, malignant silica-related cancer, or acute silicosis; and |
|
(8) appeals brought under Section 42.01 or 42.015, Tax |
|
Code, of orders of appraisal review boards of appraisal districts |
|
established for counties with a population of less than 175,000. |
|
SECTION 18. Section 126.002(a), Government Code, as |
|
transferred and redesignated from Section 169A.002, Health and |
|
Safety Code, by Chapters 604 (S.B. 536) and 1236 (S.B. 1296), Acts |
|
of the 84th Legislature, Regular Session, 2015, and as amended by |
|
Chapters 604 (S.B. 536) and 1273 (S.B. 825), Acts of the 84th |
|
Legislature, Regular Session, 2015, is reenacted to read as |
|
follows: |
|
(a) The commissioners court of a county or governing body of |
|
a municipality may establish a commercially sexually exploited |
|
persons court program for defendants charged with an offense under |
|
Section 43.02(a), Penal Code. |
|
SECTION 19. Section 402.035(c), Government Code, as amended |
|
by Chapters 146 (H.B. 188), 332 (H.B. 10), and 734 (H.B. 1549), Acts |
|
of the 84th Legislature, Regular Session, 2015, is reenacted and |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(c) The task force is composed of the following: |
|
(1) the governor or the governor's designee; |
|
(2) the attorney general or the attorney general's |
|
designee; |
|
(3) the executive commissioner of the Health and Human |
|
Services Commission or the executive commissioner's designee; |
|
(4) the commissioner of the Department of Family and |
|
Protective Services or the commissioner's designee; |
|
(5) the commissioner of the Department of State Health |
|
Services or the commissioner's designee; |
|
(6) the public safety director of the Department of |
|
Public Safety or the director's designee; |
|
(7) one representative from each of the following |
|
state agencies, appointed by the chief administrative officer of |
|
the respective agency: |
|
(A) the Texas Workforce Commission; |
|
(B) the Texas Department of Criminal Justice; |
|
(C) the Texas Juvenile Justice Department; |
|
(D) the Texas Education Agency; |
|
(E) [(D)] the Texas Alcoholic Beverage |
|
Commission; |
|
(F) the [Texas] Parks and Wildlife Department; |
|
[and] |
|
(G) the Supreme Court of Texas Permanent Judicial |
|
Commission for Children, Youth and Families; |
|
(H) the Texas Department of Licensing and |
|
Regulation; |
|
(I) the Office of Court Administration of the |
|
Texas Judicial System; |
|
(J) the office of the secretary of state; and |
|
(K) the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement; and |
|
(8) as appointed by the attorney general: |
|
(A) a chief public defender employed by a public |
|
defender's office, as defined by Article 26.044(a), Code of |
|
Criminal Procedure, or an attorney designated by the chief public |
|
defender; |
|
(B) an attorney representing the state; |
|
(C) a representative of: |
|
(i) a hotel and motel association; |
|
(ii) a district and county attorneys |
|
association; |
|
(iii) a state police association; and |
|
(iv) a statewide medical association; |
|
(D) representatives of sheriff's departments; |
|
(E) representatives of local law enforcement |
|
agencies affected by human trafficking; and |
|
(F) representatives of nongovernmental entities |
|
making comprehensive efforts to combat human trafficking by: |
|
(i) identifying human trafficking victims; |
|
(ii) providing legal or other services to |
|
human trafficking victims; |
|
(iii) participating in community outreach |
|
or public awareness efforts regarding human trafficking; |
|
(iv) providing or developing training |
|
regarding the prevention of human trafficking; or |
|
(v) engaging in other activities designed |
|
to prevent human trafficking. |
|
SECTION 20. Section 402.035(d), Government Code, as amended |
|
by Chapters 146 (H.B. 188) and 332 (H.B. 10), Acts of the 84th |
|
Legislature, Regular Session, 2015, is reenacted and amended to |
|
read as follows: |
|
(d) The task force shall: |
|
(1) collaborate, as needed to fulfill the duties of |
|
the task force, with: |
|
(A) United States attorneys' offices [Attorneys'
|
|
Offices] for all of the federal districts of Texas; and |
|
(B) special agents or customs and border |
|
protection officers and border patrol agents of: |
|
(i) the Federal Bureau of Investigation; |
|
(ii) the United States Drug Enforcement |
|
Administration; |
|
(iii) the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, |
|
Firearms and Explosives; |
|
(iv) United States Immigration and Customs |
|
Enforcement; or |
|
(v) the United States Department of |
|
Homeland Security; |
|
(2) collect, organize, and periodically publish |
|
statistical data on the nature and extent of human trafficking in |
|
this state, including data described by Subdivisions (4)(A), (B), |
|
(C), (D), and (E); |
|
(3) solicit cooperation and assistance from state and |
|
local governmental agencies, political subdivisions of the state, |
|
nongovernmental organizations, and other persons, as appropriate, |
|
for the purpose of collecting and organizing statistical data under |
|
Subdivision (2); |
|
(4) ensure that each state or local governmental |
|
agency and political subdivision of the state and each state or |
|
local law enforcement agency, district attorney, or county attorney |
|
that assists in the prevention of human trafficking collects |
|
statistical data related to human trafficking, including, as |
|
appropriate: |
|
(A) the number of investigations concerning, |
|
arrests and prosecutions for, and convictions of: |
|
(i) the offense of trafficking of persons; |
|
(ii) the offense of forgery or an offense |
|
under Chapter 43, Penal Code, if the offense was committed as part |
|
of a criminal episode involving the trafficking of persons; and |
|
(iii) an offense punishable under Section |
|
43.02(c-1)(3) [43.02(c)(3)], Penal Code, regardless of whether the |
|
offense was committed as part of a criminal episode involving the |
|
trafficking of persons; |
|
(B) demographic information on persons who are |
|
convicted of offenses described by Paragraph (A) and persons who |
|
are the victims of those offenses; |
|
(C) geographic routes by which human trafficking |
|
victims are trafficked, including routes by which victims are |
|
trafficked across this state's international border, and |
|
geographic patterns in human trafficking, including the country or |
|
state of origin and the country or state of destination; |
|
(D) means of transportation and methods used by |
|
persons who engage in trafficking to transport their victims; and |
|
(E) social and economic factors that create a |
|
demand for the labor or services that victims of human trafficking |
|
are forced to provide; |
|
(5) work with the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement |
|
to develop and conduct training for law enforcement personnel, |
|
victim service providers, and medical service providers to identify |
|
victims of human trafficking; |
|
(6) work with the Texas Education Agency, the |
|
Department of Family and Protective Services, and the Health and |
|
Human Services Commission to: |
|
(A) develop a list of key indicators that a |
|
person is a victim of human trafficking; |
|
(B) develop a standardized curriculum for |
|
training doctors, nurses, emergency medical services personnel, |
|
teachers, school counselors, school administrators, and personnel |
|
from the Department of Family and Protective Services and the |
|
Health and Human Services Commission to identify and assist victims |
|
of human trafficking; |
|
(C) train doctors, nurses, emergency medical |
|
services personnel, teachers, school counselors, school |
|
administrators, and personnel from the Department of Family and |
|
Protective Services and the Health and Human Services Commission to |
|
identify and assist victims of human trafficking; |
|
(D) develop and conduct training for personnel |
|
from the Department of Family and Protective Services and the |
|
Health and Human Services Commission on methods for identifying |
|
children in foster care who may be at risk of becoming victims of |
|
human trafficking; and |
|
(E) develop a process for referring identified |
|
human trafficking victims and individuals at risk of becoming |
|
victims to appropriate entities for services; |
|
(7) on the request of a judge of a county court, county |
|
court at law, or district court or a county attorney, district |
|
attorney, or criminal district attorney, assist and train the judge |
|
or the judge's staff or the attorney or the attorney's staff in the |
|
recognition and prevention of human trafficking; |
|
(8) examine training protocols related to human |
|
trafficking issues, as developed and implemented by federal, state, |
|
and local law enforcement agencies; |
|
(9) collaborate with state and local governmental |
|
agencies, political subdivisions of the state, and nongovernmental |
|
organizations to implement a media awareness campaign in |
|
communities affected by human trafficking; |
|
(10) develop recommendations on how to strengthen |
|
state and local efforts to prevent human trafficking, protect and |
|
assist human trafficking victims, curb markets and other economic |
|
avenues that facilitate human trafficking and investigate and |
|
prosecute human trafficking offenders; |
|
(11) examine the extent to which human trafficking is |
|
associated with the operation of sexually oriented businesses, as |
|
defined by Section 243.002, Local Government Code, and the |
|
workplace or public health concerns that are created by the |
|
association of human trafficking and the operation of sexually |
|
oriented businesses; [and] |
|
(12) develop recommendations for addressing the |
|
demand for forced labor or services or sexual conduct involving |
|
victims of human trafficking, including recommendations for |
|
increased penalties for individuals who engage or attempt to engage |
|
in prostitution with victims younger than 18 years of age; and |
|
(13) [(12)] identify and report to the governor and |
|
legislature on laws, licensure requirements, or other regulations |
|
that can be passed at the state and local level to curb trafficking |
|
using the Internet and in sexually oriented businesses. |
|
SECTION 21. Section 81.046(d), Health and Safety Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(d) In a case of sexually transmitted disease involving a |
|
minor under 14 [13] years of age, information may not be released, |
|
except that the child's name, age, and address and the name of the |
|
disease may be released to appropriate agents as required by |
|
Chapter 261, Family Code. This subsection does not affect a |
|
person's duty to report child abuse or neglect under Subchapter B, |
|
Chapter 261, Family Code, except that information made confidential |
|
by this chapter may not be released. If that information is |
|
required in a court proceeding involving child abuse, the |
|
information shall be disclosed in camera. |
|
SECTION 22. 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 of [the actor
|
|
commits] the offense; or |
|
(2) the commission of the offense results in the death |
|
of the person who is trafficked. |
|
SECTION 23. Section 21.02(b), Penal Code, is amended to |
|
read as follows: |
|
(b) A person commits an offense if: |
|
(1) during a period that is 30 or more days in |
|
duration, the person commits two or more acts of sexual abuse, |
|
regardless of whether the acts of sexual abuse are committed |
|
against one or more victims; and |
|
(2) at the time of the commission of each of the acts |
|
of sexual abuse, the actor is 17 years of age or older and the victim |
|
is a child younger than 14 years of age, regardless of whether the |
|
actor knows the age of the victim at the time of the offense. |
|
SECTION 24. Section 21.11(a), Penal Code, is amended to |
|
read as follows: |
|
(a) A person commits an offense if, with a child younger |
|
than 17 years of age, whether the child is of the same or opposite |
|
sex and regardless of whether the person knows the age of the child |
|
at the time of the offense, the person: |
|
(1) engages in sexual contact with the child or causes |
|
the child to engage in sexual contact; or |
|
(2) with intent to arouse or gratify the sexual desire |
|
of any person: |
|
(A) exposes the person's anus or any part of the |
|
person's genitals, knowing the child is present; or |
|
(B) causes the child to expose the child's anus |
|
or any part of the child's genitals. |
|
SECTION 25. Section 22.011(a), Penal Code, is amended to |
|
read as follows: |
|
(a) A person commits an offense if [the person]: |
|
(1) the person intentionally or knowingly: |
|
(A) causes the penetration of the anus or sexual |
|
organ of another person by any means, without that person's |
|
consent; |
|
(B) causes the penetration of the mouth of |
|
another person by the sexual organ of the actor, without that |
|
person's consent; or |
|
(C) causes the sexual organ of another person, |
|
without that person's consent, to contact or penetrate the mouth, |
|
anus, or sexual organ of another person, including the actor; or |
|
(2) regardless of whether the person knows the age of |
|
the child at the time of the offense, the person intentionally or |
|
knowingly: |
|
(A) causes the penetration of the anus or sexual |
|
organ of a child by any means; |
|
(B) causes the penetration of the mouth of a |
|
child by the sexual organ of the actor; |
|
(C) causes the sexual organ of a child to contact |
|
or penetrate the mouth, anus, or sexual organ of another person, |
|
including the actor; |
|
(D) causes the anus of a child to contact the |
|
mouth, anus, or sexual organ of another person, including the |
|
actor; or |
|
(E) causes the mouth of a child to contact the |
|
anus or sexual organ of another person, including the actor. |
|
SECTION 26. Section 22.021(a), Penal Code, is amended to |
|
read as follows: |
|
(a) A person commits an offense: |
|
(1) if the person: |
|
(A) intentionally or knowingly: |
|
(i) causes the penetration of the anus or |
|
sexual organ of another person by any means, without that person's |
|
consent; |
|
(ii) causes the penetration of the mouth of |
|
another person by the sexual organ of the actor, without that |
|
person's consent; or |
|
(iii) causes the sexual organ of another |
|
person, without that person's consent, to contact or penetrate the |
|
mouth, anus, or sexual organ of another person, including the |
|
actor; or |
|
(B) regardless of whether the person knows the |
|
age of the child at the time of the offense, intentionally or |
|
knowingly: |
|
(i) causes the penetration of the anus or |
|
sexual organ of a child by any means; |
|
(ii) causes the penetration of the mouth of |
|
a child by the sexual organ of the actor; |
|
(iii) causes the sexual organ of a child to |
|
contact or penetrate the mouth, anus, or sexual organ of another |
|
person, including the actor; |
|
(iv) causes the anus of a child to contact |
|
the mouth, anus, or sexual organ of another person, including the |
|
actor; or |
|
(v) causes the mouth of a child to contact |
|
the anus or sexual organ of another person, including the actor; and |
|
(2) if: |
|
(A) the person: |
|
(i) causes serious bodily injury or |
|
attempts to cause the death of the victim or another person in the |
|
course of the same criminal episode; |
|
(ii) by acts or words places the victim in |
|
fear that any person will become the victim of an offense under |
|
Section 20A.02(a)(3), (4), (7), or (8) or that death, serious |
|
bodily injury, or kidnapping will be imminently inflicted on any |
|
person; |
|
(iii) by acts or words occurring in the |
|
presence of the victim threatens to cause any person to become the |
|
victim of an offense under Section 20A.02(a)(3), (4), (7), or (8) or |
|
to cause the death, serious bodily injury, or kidnapping of any |
|
person; |
|
(iv) uses or exhibits a deadly weapon in the |
|
course of the same criminal episode; |
|
(v) acts in concert with another who |
|
engages in conduct described by Subdivision (1) directed toward the |
|
same victim and occurring during the course of the same criminal |
|
episode; or |
|
(vi) administers or provides |
|
flunitrazepam, otherwise known as rohypnol, gamma hydroxybutyrate, |
|
or ketamine to the victim of the offense with the intent of |
|
facilitating the commission of the offense; |
|
(B) the victim is younger than 14 years of age, |
|
regardless of whether the person knows the age of the victim at the |
|
time of the offense; or |
|
(C) the victim is an elderly individual or a |
|
disabled individual. |
|
SECTION 27. Section 43.01, Penal Code, is amended by adding |
|
Subdivision (1-a) to read as follows: |
|
(1-a) "Fee" means the payment or offer of payment in |
|
the form of money, goods, services, or other benefit. |
|
SECTION 28. Sections 43.02(a) and (b), Penal Code, are |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) A person commits an offense if[, in return for receipt
|
|
of a fee,] the person knowingly offers or agrees to receive a fee |
|
from another to engage in sexual conduct[:
|
|
[(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) 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 offers or agrees to pay a fee to another person for |
|
the purpose of engaging in sexual conduct with that person or |
|
another[:
|
|
[(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]. |
|
SECTION 29. Section 43.02, Penal Code, as amended by |
|
Chapters 332 (H.B. 10) and 1273 (S.B. 825), Acts of the 84th |
|
Legislature, Regular Session, 2015, is amended by reenacting |
|
Subsection (c) and reenacting and amending Subsection (c-1) to read |
|
as follows: |
|
(c) An offense under Subsection (a) 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 Subsection (a); |
|
or |
|
(2) a state jail felony if the actor has previously |
|
been convicted three or more times of an offense under Subsection |
|
(a). |
|
(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 Subsection (b); |
|
(2) a state jail felony if the actor has previously |
|
been convicted three or more times of an offense under Subsection |
|
(b); or |
|
(3) a felony of the second degree if the person with |
|
whom the actor agrees to engage in sexual conduct [solicited] is: |
|
(A) younger than 18 years of age, regardless of |
|
whether the actor knows the age of the person [solicited] at the |
|
time of [the actor commits] the offense; |
|
(B) represented to the actor as being younger |
|
than 18 years of age; or |
|
(C) believed by the actor to be younger than 18 |
|
years of age. |
|
SECTION 30. Section 43.03(b), Penal Code, is amended to |
|
read as follows: |
|
(b) An offense under this section is a state jail felony |
|
[Class A misdemeanor], except that the offense is: |
|
(1) a felony of the third degree [state jail felony] if |
|
the actor has been previously convicted of an offense under this |
|
section; or |
|
(2) a felony of the second degree if the actor engages |
|
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 of [the
|
|
actor commits] the offense. |
|
SECTION 31. Section 43.04(b), Penal Code, is amended to |
|
read as follows: |
|
(b) An offense under this section is a felony of the second |
|
[third] degree, except that the offense is a felony of the first |
|
degree if the prostitution enterprise uses as a prostitute one or |
|
more persons younger than 18 years of age, regardless of whether the |
|
actor knows the age of the person at the time of [the actor commits] |
|
the offense. |
|
SECTION 32. Section 43.05(a), Penal Code, is amended to |
|
read as follows: |
|
(a) A person commits an offense if the person knowingly: |
|
(1) causes another by force, threat, or fraud to |
|
commit prostitution; or |
|
(2) causes by any means a child younger than 18 years |
|
to commit prostitution, regardless of whether the actor knows the |
|
age of the child at the time of [the actor commits] the offense. |
|
SECTION 33. Section 43.25, Penal Code, is amended by |
|
amending Subsections (c) and (e) and adding Subsection (h) to read |
|
as follows: |
|
(c) An offense under Subsection (b) is a felony of the |
|
second degree, except that the offense is a felony of the first |
|
degree if the victim is younger than 14 years of age at the time the |
|
offense is committed, regardless of whether the actor knows the age |
|
of the victim at the time of the offense. |
|
(e) An offense under Subsection (d) is a felony of the third |
|
degree, except that the offense is a felony of the second degree if |
|
the victim is younger than 14 years of age at the time the offense is |
|
committed, regardless of whether the actor knows the age of the |
|
victim at the time of the offense. |
|
(h) Conduct under this section constitutes an offense |
|
regardless of whether the actor knows the age of the victim at the |
|
time of the offense. |
|
SECTION 34. Section 43.251, Penal Code, is amended by |
|
amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (d) to read as |
|
follows: |
|
(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, regardless of whether the actor knows the age of the |
|
child at the time of the offense. |
|
(d) Conduct under this section constitutes an offense |
|
regardless of whether the actor knows the age of the child at the |
|
time of the offense. |
|
SECTION 35. The following laws are repealed: |
|
(1) Section 402.035(h), Government Code; and |
|
(2) Section 43.02(b-1), Penal Code. |
|
SECTION 36. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of |
|
this section, 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. |
|
(b) The changes in law made by this Act in amending Chapter |
|
62, Code of Criminal Procedure, apply only to a person who is |
|
required to register under Chapter 62, Code of Criminal Procedure, |
|
on the basis of a conviction or adjudication for or based on an |
|
offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. A |
|
person who is required to register under Chapter 62, Code of |
|
Criminal Procedure, solely on the basis of a conviction or |
|
adjudication for or based on 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 37. (a) Not later than December 1, 2017, the Texas |
|
Higher Education Coordinating Board shall adopt rules necessary to |
|
implement Section 130.0105, Education Code, as added by this Act. |
|
(b) Not later than December 1, 2017, the Texas Workforce |
|
Commission shall adopt rules necessary to implement Section |
|
132.006, Education Code, as added by this Act. |
|
SECTION 38. 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 39. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |