H.B. No. 3000
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to creating the offense of continuous trafficking of
  persons; providing a penalty and other civil consequences.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 20A, Penal Code, is amended by adding
  Section 20A.03 to read as follows:
         Sec. 20A.03.  CONTINUOUS TRAFFICKING OF PERSONS. (a) A
  person commits an offense if, during a period that is 30 or more
  days in duration, the person engages two or more times in conduct
  that constitutes an offense under Section 20A.02.
         (b)  If a jury is the trier of fact, members of the jury are
  not required to agree unanimously on which specific conduct engaged
  in by the defendant constituted an offense under Section 20A.02 or
  on which exact date the defendant engaged in that conduct.  The jury
  must agree unanimously that the defendant, during a period that is
  30 or more days in duration, engaged in conduct that constituted an
  offense under Section 20A.02.
         (c)  If the victim of an offense under Subsection (a) is the
  same victim as a victim of an offense under Section 20A.02, a
  defendant may not be convicted of the offense under Section 20A.02
  in the same criminal action as the offense under Subsection (a),
  unless the offense under Section 20A.02:
               (1)  is charged in the alternative;
               (2)  occurred outside the period in which the offense
  alleged under Subsection (a) was committed; or
               (3)  is considered by the trier of fact to be a lesser
  included offense of the offense alleged under Subsection (a).
         (d)  A defendant may not be charged with more than one count
  under Subsection (a) if all of the conduct that constitutes an
  offense under Section 20A.02 is alleged to have been committed
  against the same victim.
         (e)  An offense under this section is a felony of the first
  degree, punishable by imprisonment in the Texas Department of
  Criminal Justice for life or for any term of not more than 99 years
  or less than 25 years.
         SECTION 2.  Article 12.01, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Art. 12.01.  FELONIES.  Except as provided in Article 12.03,
  felony indictments may be presented within these limits, and not
  afterward:
               (1)  no limitation:
                     (A)  murder and manslaughter;
                     (B)  sexual assault under Section 22.011(a)(2),
  Penal Code, or aggravated sexual assault under Section
  22.021(a)(1)(B), Penal Code;
                     (C)  sexual assault, if during the investigation
  of the offense biological matter is collected and subjected to
  forensic DNA testing and the testing results show that the matter
  does not match the victim or any other person whose identity is
  readily ascertained;
                     (D)  continuous sexual abuse of young child or
  children under Section 21.02, Penal Code;
                     (E)  indecency with a child under Section 21.11,
  Penal Code; [or]
                     (F)  an offense involving leaving the scene of an
  accident under Section 550.021, Transportation Code, if the
  accident resulted in the death of a person; or
                     (G)  continuous trafficking of persons under
  Section 20A.03, Penal Code;
               (2)  ten years from the date of the commission of the
  offense:
                     (A)  theft of any estate, real, personal or mixed,
  by an executor, administrator, guardian or trustee, with intent to
  defraud any creditor, heir, legatee, ward, distributee,
  beneficiary or settlor of a trust interested in such estate;
                     (B)  theft by a public servant of government
  property over which he exercises control in his official capacity;
                     (C)  forgery or the uttering, using or passing of
  forged instruments;
                     (D)  injury to an elderly or disabled individual
  punishable as a felony of the first degree under Section 22.04,
  Penal Code;
                     (E)  sexual assault, except as provided by
  Subdivision (1); or
                     (F)  arson;
               (3)  seven years from the date of the commission of the
  offense:
                     (A)  misapplication of fiduciary property or
  property of a financial institution;
                     (B)  securing execution of document by deception;
                     (C)  a felony violation under Chapter 162, Tax
  Code;
                     (D)  false statement to obtain property or credit
  under Section 32.32, Penal Code;
                     (E)  money laundering;
                     (F)  credit card or debit card abuse under Section
  32.31, Penal Code; or
                     (G)  fraudulent use or possession of identifying
  information under Section 32.51, Penal Code;
               (4)  five years from the date of the commission of the
  offense:
                     (A)  theft or robbery;
                     (B)  except as provided by Subdivision (5),
  kidnapping or burglary;
                     (C)  injury to an elderly or disabled individual
  that is not punishable as a felony of the first degree under Section
  22.04, Penal Code;
                     (D)  abandoning or endangering a child; or
                     (E)  insurance fraud;
               (5)  if the investigation of the offense shows that the
  victim is younger than 17 years of age at the time the offense is
  committed, 20 years from the 18th birthday of the victim of one of
  the following offenses:
                     (A)  sexual performance by a child under Section
  43.25, Penal Code;
                     (B)  aggravated kidnapping under Section
  20.04(a)(4), Penal Code, if the defendant committed the offense
  with the intent to violate or abuse the victim sexually; or
                     (C)  burglary under Section 30.02, Penal Code, if
  the offense is punishable under Subsection (d) of that section and
  the defendant committed the offense with the intent to commit an
  offense described by Subdivision (1)(B) or (D) of this article or
  Paragraph (B) of this subdivision;
               (6)  ten years from the 18th birthday of the victim of
  the offense: injury to a child under Section 22.04, Penal Code; or
               (7)  three years from the date of the commission of the
  offense: all other felonies.
         SECTION 3.  Article 17.03(b), Code of Criminal Procedure, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (b)  Only the court before whom the case is pending may
  release on personal bond a defendant who:
               (1)  is charged with an offense under the following
  sections of the Penal Code:
                     (A)  Section 19.03 (Capital Murder);
                     (B)  Section 20.04 (Aggravated Kidnapping);
                     (C)  Section 22.021 (Aggravated Sexual Assault);
                     (D)  Section 22.03 (Deadly Assault on Law
  Enforcement or Corrections Officer, Member or Employee of Board of
  Pardons and Paroles, or Court Participant);
                     (E)  Section 22.04 (Injury to a Child, Elderly
  Individual, or Disabled Individual);
                     (F)  Section 29.03 (Aggravated Robbery);
                     (G)  Section 30.02 (Burglary);
                     (H)  Section 71.02 (Engaging in Organized
  Criminal Activity); [or]
                     (I)  Section 21.02 (Continuous Sexual Abuse of
  Young Child or Children); or
                     (J)  Section 20A.03 (Continuous Trafficking of
  Persons);
               (2)  is charged with a felony under Chapter 481, Health
  and Safety Code, or Section 485.033, Health and Safety Code,
  punishable by imprisonment for a minimum term or by a maximum fine
  that is more than a minimum term or maximum fine for a first degree
  felony; or
               (3)  does not submit to testing for the presence of a
  controlled substance in the defendant's body as requested by the
  court or magistrate under Subsection (c) of this article or submits
  to testing and the test shows evidence of the presence of a
  controlled substance in the defendant's body.
         SECTION 4.  Article 17.032(a), Code of Criminal Procedure,
  is amended to read as follows:
         (a)  In this article, "violent offense" means an offense
  under the following sections of the Penal Code:
               (1)  Section 19.02 (murder);
               (2)  Section 19.03 (capital murder);
               (3)  Section 20.03 (kidnapping);
               (4)  Section 20.04 (aggravated kidnapping);
               (5)  Section 21.11 (indecency with a child);
               (6)  Section 22.01(a)(1) (assault);
               (7)  Section 22.011 (sexual assault);
               (8)  Section 22.02 (aggravated assault);
               (9)  Section 22.021 (aggravated sexual assault);
               (10)  Section 22.04 (injury to a child, elderly
  individual, or disabled individual);
               (11)  Section 29.03 (aggravated robbery); [or]
               (12)  Section 21.02 (continuous sexual abuse of young
  child or children); or
               (13)  Section 20A.03 (continuous trafficking of
  persons).
         SECTION 5.  Article 17.091, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Art. 17.091.  NOTICE OF CERTAIN BAIL REDUCTIONS REQUIRED.  
  Before a judge or magistrate reduces the amount of bail set for a
  defendant charged with an offense listed in Section 3g, Article
  42.12, [or] an offense described by Article 62.001(5), or an
  offense under Section 20A.03, Penal Code, the judge or magistrate
  shall provide:
               (1)  to the attorney representing the state, reasonable
  notice of the proposed bail reduction; and
               (2)  on request of the attorney representing the state
  or the defendant or the defendant's counsel, an opportunity for a
  hearing concerning the proposed bail reduction.
         SECTION 6.  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; [or]
                           (v)  Section 43.25, Penal Code; or
                           (vi)  Section 20A.03, Penal Code; and
                     (D)  an offense described by Article 62.001(6)(C)
  or (D), Code of Criminal Procedure;
               (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 7.  Section 411.1471(a), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  This section applies to a defendant who is:
               (1)  indicted or waives indictment for a felony
  prohibited or punishable under any of the following Penal Code
  sections:
                     (A)  Section 20.04(a)(4);
                     (B)  Section 21.11;
                     (C)  Section 22.011;
                     (D)  Section 22.021;
                     (E)  Section 25.02;
                     (F)  Section 30.02(d);
                     (G)  Section 43.05;
                     (H)  Section 43.25;
                     (I)  Section 43.26; [or]
                     (J)  Section 21.02; or
                     (K)  Section 20A.03;
               (2)  arrested for a felony described by Subdivision (1)
  after having been previously convicted of or placed on deferred
  adjudication for an offense described by Subdivision (1) or an
  offense punishable under Section 30.02(c)(2), Penal Code; or
               (3)  convicted of an offense under Section 21.07 or
  21.08, Penal Code.
         SECTION 8.  Section 499.027(b), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (b)  An inmate is not eligible under this subchapter to be
  considered for release to intensive supervision parole if:
               (1)  the inmate is awaiting transfer to the
  institutional division, or serving a sentence, for an offense for
  which the judgment contains an affirmative finding under Section
  3g(a)(2), Article 42.12, Code of Criminal Procedure;
               (2)  the inmate is awaiting transfer to the
  institutional division, or serving a sentence, for an offense
  listed in one of the following sections of the Penal Code:
                     (A)  Section 19.02 (murder);
                     (B)  Section 19.03 (capital murder);
                     (C)  Section 19.04 (manslaughter);
                     (D)  Section 20.03 (kidnapping);
                     (E)  Section 20.04 (aggravated kidnapping);
                     (F)  Section 21.11 (indecency with a child);
                     (G)  Section 22.011 (sexual assault);
                     (H)  Section 22.02 (aggravated assault);
                     (I)  Section 22.021 (aggravated sexual assault);
                     (J)  Section 22.04 (injury to a child or an
  elderly individual);
                     (K)  Section 25.02 (prohibited sexual conduct);
                     (L)  Section 25.08 (sale or purchase of a child);
                     (M)  Section 28.02 (arson);
                     (N)  Section 29.02 (robbery);
                     (O)  Section 29.03 (aggravated robbery);
                     (P)  Section 30.02 (burglary), if the offense is
  punished as a first-degree felony under that section;
                     (Q)  Section 43.04 (aggravated promotion of
  prostitution);
                     (R)  Section 43.05 (compelling prostitution);
                     (S)  Section 43.24 (sale, distribution, or
  display of harmful material to minor);
                     (T)  Section 43.25 (sexual performance by a
  child);
                     (U)  Section 46.10 (deadly weapon in penal
  institution);
                     (V)  Section 15.01 (criminal attempt), if the
  offense attempted is listed in this subsection;
                     (W)  Section 15.02 (criminal conspiracy), if the
  offense that is the subject of the conspiracy is listed in this
  subsection;
                     (X)  Section 15.03 (criminal solicitation), if
  the offense solicited is listed in this subsection; [or]
                     (Y)  Section 21.02 (continuous sexual abuse of
  young child or children); or
                     (Z)  Section 20A.03 (continuous trafficking of
  persons); or
               (3)  the inmate is awaiting transfer to the
  institutional division, or serving a sentence, for an offense under
  Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code, punishable by a minimum term of
  imprisonment or a maximum fine that is greater than the minimum term
  of imprisonment or the maximum fine for a first degree felony.
         SECTION 9.  Section 508.046, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 508.046.  EXTRAORDINARY VOTE REQUIRED.  To release on
  parole an inmate who was convicted of an offense under Section
  20A.03, 21.02, 21.11(a)(1), or 22.021, Penal Code, or who is
  required under Section 508.145(c) to serve 35 calendar years before
  becoming eligible for release on parole, all members of the board
  must vote on the release on parole of the inmate, and at least
  two-thirds of the members must vote in favor of the release on
  parole.  A member of the board may not vote on the release unless the
  member first receives a copy of a written report from the department
  on the probability that the inmate would commit an offense after
  being released on parole.
         SECTION 10.  Section 508.145(d), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (d)  An inmate serving a sentence for an offense described by
  Section 3g(a)(1)(A), (C), (D), (E), (F), (G), (H), (I), (J), or (K),
  Article 42.12, Code of Criminal Procedure, or for an offense for
  which the judgment contains an affirmative finding under Section
  3g(a)(2) of that article, or for an offense under Section 20A.03,
  Penal Code, is not eligible for release on parole until the inmate's
  actual calendar time served, without consideration of good conduct
  time, equals one-half of the sentence or 30 calendar years,
  whichever is less, but in no event is the inmate eligible for
  release on parole in less than two calendar years.
         SECTION 11.  Section 508.149(a), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  An inmate may not be released to mandatory supervision
  if the inmate is serving a sentence for or has been previously
  convicted of:
               (1)  an offense for which the judgment contains an
  affirmative finding under Section 3g(a)(2), Article 42.12, Code of
  Criminal Procedure;
               (2)  a first degree felony or a second degree felony
  under Section 19.02, Penal Code;
               (3)  a capital felony under Section 19.03, Penal Code;
               (4)  a first degree felony or a second degree felony
  under Section 20.04, Penal Code;
               (5)  an offense under Section 21.11, Penal Code;
               (6)  a felony under Section 22.011, Penal Code;
               (7)  a first degree felony or a second degree felony
  under Section 22.02, Penal Code;
               (8)  a first degree felony under Section 22.021, Penal
  Code;
               (9)  a first degree felony under Section 22.04, Penal
  Code;
               (10)  a first degree felony under Section 28.02, Penal
  Code;
               (11)  a second degree felony under Section 29.02, Penal
  Code;
               (12)  a first degree felony under Section 29.03, Penal
  Code;
               (13)  a first degree felony under Section 30.02, Penal
  Code;
               (14)  a felony for which the punishment is increased
  under Section 481.134 or Section 481.140, Health and Safety Code;
               (15)  an offense under Section 43.25, Penal Code;
               (16)  an offense under Section 21.02, Penal Code; [or]
               (17)  a first degree felony under Section 15.03, Penal
  Code; or
               (18)  an offense under Section 20A.03, Penal Code.
         SECTION 12.  Section 508.151(a), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  For the purpose of diverting inmates to halfway houses
  under Section 508.118, a parole panel, after reviewing all
  available pertinent information, may designate a presumptive
  parole date for an inmate who:
               (1)  has never been convicted of an offense listed
  under Section 3g(a)(1), Article 42.12, Code of Criminal Procedure,
  or an offense under Section 20A.03 or 21.02, Penal Code; and
               (2)  has never had a conviction with a judgment that
  contains an affirmative finding under Section 3g(a)(2), Article
  42.12, Code of Criminal Procedure.
         SECTION 13.  Section 12.35(c), Penal Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (c)  An individual adjudged guilty of a state jail felony
  shall be punished for a third degree felony if it is shown on the
  trial of the offense that:
               (1)  a deadly weapon as defined by Section 1.07 was used
  or exhibited during the commission of the offense or during
  immediate flight following the commission of the offense, and that
  the individual used or exhibited the deadly weapon or was a party to
  the offense and knew that a deadly weapon would be used or
  exhibited; or
               (2)  the individual has previously been finally
  convicted of any felony:
                     (A)  under Section 20A.03 or 21.02 or listed in
  Section 3g(a)(1), Article 42.12, Code of Criminal Procedure; or
                     (B)  for which the judgment contains an
  affirmative finding under Section 3g(a)(2), Article 42.12, Code of
  Criminal Procedure.
         SECTION 14.  Section 12.42(c)(4), Penal Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
               (4)  Notwithstanding Subdivision (1) or (2), a
  defendant shall be punished by imprisonment in the Texas Department
  of Criminal Justice for life without parole if it is shown on the
  trial of an offense under Section 20A.03 or 21.02 that the defendant
  has previously been finally convicted of:
                     (A)  an offense under Section 20A.03 or 21.02; or
                     (B)  an offense that was committed under the laws
  of another state and that contains elements that are substantially
  similar to the elements of an offense under Section 20A.03 or 21.02.
         SECTION 15.  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 16.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 3000 was passed by the House on April
  14, 2011, by the following vote:  Yeas 142, Nays 0, 1 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 3000 was passed by the Senate on May
  13, 2011, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0
  .
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor