By:  Wise                                                         H.B. No. 59 


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the prosecution of and punishment for the offenses of kidnapping and aggravated kidnapping. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 20.03(c), Penal Code, is amended to read as follows: (c) An offense under this section is a felony of the third degree, except that an offense under this section is a felony of the second degree if the actor exposed the person abducted to a risk of serious bodily injury. SECTION 2. Section 20.04(a), Penal Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) A person commits an offense if: (1) the person [he] intentionally or knowingly abducts another person with the intent to: (A) [(1)] hold the person abducted [him] for ransom or reward or to coerce a third person to perform some act; (B) [(2)] use the person abducted [him] as a shield or hostage; (C) [(3)] facilitate the commission of a felony or the flight after the attempt or commission of a felony; (D) [(4)] inflict bodily injury on the person abducted [him] or violate or abuse the person abducted [him] sexually; (E) [(5)] terrorize the person abducted [him] or a third person; [or] (F) [(6)] interfere with the performance of any governmental or political function; or (G) hold the person abducted in a condition of involuntary servitude; or (2) the person intentionally or knowingly abducts another person who is: (A) younger than 17 years of age; or (B) incompetent. SECTION 3. (a) The change in law made by this Act applies only to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. For purposes of this section, an offense is committed before the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurs before that date. (b) An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is covered by the law in effect when the offense was committed, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.