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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the prosecution of the offense of smuggling of persons. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 20.01, Penal Code, is amended by adding |
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Subdivision (9) to read as follows: |
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(9) "Cultural resource site or area," "natural area," |
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"open space area," and "park" have the meanings assigned by Section |
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24.001, Parks and Wildlife Code. |
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SECTION 2. Section 20.05(a), Penal Code, is amended to read |
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as follows: |
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(a) A person commits an offense if the person knowingly: |
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(1) uses a motor vehicle, aircraft, watercraft, or |
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other means of conveyance to transport an individual with the |
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intent to: |
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(A) conceal the individual from a peace officer |
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or special investigator; or |
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(B) flee from a person the actor knows is a peace |
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officer or special investigator attempting to lawfully arrest or |
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detain the actor; |
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(2) encourages or induces a person to enter or remain |
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in this country in violation of federal law by concealing, |
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harboring, or shielding that person from detection; or |
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(3) assists, guides, or directs two or more |
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individuals to enter or remain on a cultural resource site or area, |
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natural area, open space area, park, or agricultural land without |
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the effective consent of the owner. |
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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 January 1, 2024. |