Bill Text: TX HB934 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Relating to the prosecution of the offense of trafficking of persons.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-05-01 - Committee report sent to Calendars [HB934 Detail]

Download: Texas-2019-HB934-Introduced.html

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86R5911 LHC-D
By: Shaheen H.B. No. 934

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the prosecution of the offense of trafficking of
persons.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 20A.02(a), Penal Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) A person commits an offense if the person [knowingly]:
(1) knowingly traffics another person with the intent
that the trafficked person engage in forced labor or services;
(2) knowingly receives a benefit from participating in
a venture that involves an activity described by Subdivision (1),
including by receiving labor or services the person knows are
forced labor or services;
(3) knowingly traffics another person and, through
force, fraud, or coercion, causes the trafficked person to engage
in conduct prohibited by:
(A) Section 43.02 (Prostitution);
(B) Section 43.03 (Promotion of Prostitution);
(C) Section 43.04 (Aggravated Promotion of
Prostitution); or
(D) Section 43.05 (Compelling Prostitution);
(4) engages in sexual conduct with a person trafficked
in the manner described by Subdivision (3), regardless of whether
the actor knows that the person has been trafficked in the manner
described by that subdivision, or knowingly receives a benefit from
participating in a venture that involves an activity described by
Subdivision (3) [or engages in sexual conduct with a person
trafficked in the manner described in Subdivision (3)];
(5) knowingly traffics a child with the intent that
the trafficked child engage in forced labor or services;
(6) knowingly receives a benefit from participating
in a venture that involves an activity described by Subdivision
(5), including by receiving labor or services the person knows are
forced labor or services;
(7) knowingly traffics a child and by any means causes
the trafficked child to engage in, or become the victim of, conduct
prohibited by:
(A) Section 21.02 (Continuous Sexual Abuse of
Young Child or Children);
(B) Section 21.11 (Indecency with a Child);
(C) Section 22.011 (Sexual Assault);
(D) Section 22.021 (Aggravated Sexual Assault);
(E) Section 43.02 (Prostitution);
(F) Section 43.03 (Promotion of Prostitution);
(G) Section 43.04 (Aggravated Promotion of
Prostitution);
(H) Section 43.05 (Compelling Prostitution);
(I) Section 43.25 (Sexual Performance by a
Child);
(J) Section 43.251 (Employment Harmful to
Children); or
(K) Section 43.26 (Possession or Promotion of
Child Pornography); or
(8) engages in sexual conduct with a child trafficked
in the manner described by Subdivision (7), regardless of whether
the actor knows that the child has been trafficked in the manner
described by that subdivision, or knowingly receives a benefit
from participating in a venture that involves an activity described
by Subdivision (7) [or engages in sexual conduct with a child
trafficked in the manner described in Subdivision (7)].
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, 2019.