Texas HB 934: Relating to the prosecution of the offense of trafficking of persons.

Bill Text

By:AAShaheen H.B.ANo.A934
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:
SECTIONA1.AASection 20A.02(a), Penal Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a)AAA person commits an offense if the person [knowingly]:
(1)AAknowingly traffics another person with the intent
that the trafficked person engage in forced labor or services;
(2)AAknowingly 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)AAknowinglyAtraffics another person and, through
force, fraud, or coercion, causes the trafficked person to engage
in conduct prohibited by:
(A)AASection 43.02 (Prostitution);
(B)AASection 43.03 (Promotion of Prostitution);
(C)AASection 43.04 (Aggravated Promotion of
Prostitution); or
(D)AASection 43.05 (Compelling Prostitution);
(4)AAengages 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
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
86R5911 LHC-D 1

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)AAknowinglyAtraffics a child with the intent that
the trafficked child engage in forced labor or services;
(6)AAknowinglyAreceives 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)AAknowinglyAtraffics a child and by any means causes
the trafficked child to engage in, or become the victim of, conduct
prohibited by:
(A)AASection 21.02 (Continuous Sexual Abuse of
Young Child or Children);
(B)AASection 21.11 (Indecency with a Child);
(C)AASection 22.011 (Sexual Assault);
(D)AASection 22.021 (Aggravated Sexual Assault);
(E)AASection 43.02 (Prostitution);
(F)AASection 43.03 (Promotion of Prostitution);
(G)AASection 43.04 (Aggravated Promotion of
Prostitution);
(H)AASection 43.05 (Compelling Prostitution);
(I)AASection 43.25 (Sexual Performance by a
Child);
(J)AASection 43.251 (Employment Harmful to
Children); or
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
H.B.ANo.A934
2

(K)AASection 43.26 (Possession or Promotion of
Child Pornography); or
(8)AAengages 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 knowinglyAreceives 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)].
SECTIONA2.AAThe 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.
SECTIONA3.AAThis Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
H.B.ANo.A934
3