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AN ACT
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relating to the definition of coercion for purposes of trafficking |
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of persons. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 20A.01, Penal Code, is amended by adding |
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Subdivision (1-a) to read as follows: |
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(1-a) "Coercion" as defined by Section 1.07 includes: |
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(A) destroying, concealing, confiscating, or |
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withholding from a trafficked person, or threatening to destroy, |
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conceal, confiscate, or withhold from a trafficked person, the |
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person's actual or purported: |
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(i) government records; or |
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(ii) identifying information or documents; |
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(B) causing a trafficked person, without the |
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person's consent, to become intoxicated, as defined by Section |
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49.01, to a degree that impairs the person's ability to appraise the |
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nature of or resist engaging in any conduct, including performing |
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or providing labor or services; or |
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(C) withholding alcohol or a controlled |
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substance to a degree that impairs the ability of a trafficked |
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person with a chemical dependency, as defined by Section 462.001, |
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Health and Safety Code, to appraise the nature of or resist engaging |
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in any conduct, including performing or providing labor or |
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services. |
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SECTION 2. Section 20A.02(a-1), Penal Code, is repealed. |
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SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. |
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An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is |
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governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed, |
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and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For |
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purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the |
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effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred |
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before that date. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 3521 was passed by the House on May |
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11, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 143, Nays 0, 2 present, not |
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voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 3521 was passed by the Senate on May |
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27, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: _____________________ |
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Date |
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_____________________ |
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Governor |