S.B. No. 957 proposes the creation of a new criminal offense known as "continuous aggravated promotion of prostitution," which is defined in the newly added Section 43.042 of the Penal Code. Under this section, a person commits the offense if they engage in conduct that constitutes an offense under Section 43.04 two or more times over a period of 30 days or more. The bill outlines specific jury requirements, stating that jurors do not need to agree on the exact conduct or dates of the offenses, as long as they unanimously agree that the defendant engaged in the requisite conduct during the specified time frame.

Additionally, the bill establishes that if the victim of the continuous aggravated promotion of prostitution is the same as a victim of an offense under Section 43.04, the defendant cannot be convicted of both offenses in the same criminal action unless certain conditions are met. It also limits the number of counts that can be charged under this new section if all alleged conduct was against the same victim. The offense is classified as a first-degree felony, carrying severe penalties, including potential life imprisonment or a term of 25 to 99 years. The act is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

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