H.B. No. 2000, also known as Audrii's Law, amends the Code of Criminal Procedure to include the offense of child grooming as a reportable conviction or adjudication under sex offender registration requirements. Specifically, it adds a new provision that defines a reportable conviction to include violations of Section 15.032 (Child grooming), Penal Code. This insertion expands the scope of offenses that require registration, thereby enhancing the legal framework aimed at protecting children from sexual offenses.
The bill also clarifies that the changes will only apply to offenses committed on or after the effective date of the law, which is set for September 1, 2025. Offenses committed prior to this date will be governed by the existing laws, ensuring that individuals are not retroactively subjected to new registration requirements. This approach balances the need for updated legal protections with fairness to those who committed offenses under the previous legal framework.