Bill Text: TX HB861 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Comm Sub

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Bill Title: Relating to the prosecution of the offense of online solicitation of a minor.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 23-6)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-05-04 - Laid on the table subject to call [HB861 Detail]

Download: Texas-2015-HB861-Comm_Sub.html

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84R17156 JRR-F
By: Dale, King of Parker, Sheffield, Burkett, H.B. No. 861
Frullo, et al.
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 861:
By: Herrero C.S.H.B. No. 861

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the prosecution of the offense of online solicitation
of a minor.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Sections 33.021(b), (d), and (e), Penal Code,
are amended to read as follows:
(b) A person who is 17 years of age or older commits an
offense if, with the intent to induce a minor to engage in conduct
with the actor or another person that would constitute an offense
under Section 21.11, 22.011, 22.021, 43.25, or 43.26 [arouse or
gratify the sexual desire of any person], the person, over the
Internet, by electronic mail or text message or other electronic
message service or system, or through a commercial online service,
intentionally:
(1) communicates in a sexually explicit manner with a
minor; or
(2) distributes sexually explicit material to a minor.
(d) It is not a defense to prosecution under Subsection (c)
that[:
[(1)] the meeting did not occur[;
[(2) the actor did not intend for the meeting to occur;
or
[(3) the actor was engaged in a fantasy at the time of
commission of the offense].
(e) It is a defense to prosecution under this section that
at the time conduct described by Subsection [(b) or] (c) was
committed:
(1) the actor was married to the minor; or
(2) the actor was not more than three years older than
the minor and the minor consented to the conduct.
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only
to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act.
An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is
governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed,
and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For
purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the
effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred
before that date.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.