HB 1215

AN ACT relating to the prosecution of the offenses of indecency with a

House Bill Schatzline
Filed

Filed

Bill introduced by legislator

Committee

Hearing

Passed Cmte

Calendar

Passed

Sent

Enrolled

Governor

Signed

89th Regular Session

Jan 14, 2025 - Jun 2, 2025 • Session ended

Awaiting Committee Assignment

Bill filed, pending referral to House committee

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What This Bill Does

Modifies Texas law regarding sexual offenses against children by changing the definition of "child" from 17 to 18 years old across multiple sections of the Penal Code and Code of Criminal Procedure. The change expands legal protections for individuals under 18, increasing the age at which sexual contact is considered a criminal offense. For offenders convicted of such crimes, the bill maintains existing provisions requiring child safety zones and mandatory counseling, now applying these restrictions to offenses involving victims under 18. This means offenders will be prohibited from entering areas where children gather and must attend sex offender treatment programs, with restrictions tailored to the specifics of their case.

Subject Areas

Bill Text

relating to the prosecution of the offenses of indecency with a
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Section 21.11(a), Penal Code, is amended to read
(a)  A person commits an offense if, with a child younger
than 18 [17] years of age, whether the child is of the same or
opposite sex and regardless of whether the person knows the age of
the child at the time of the offense, the person:
(1)  engages in sexual contact with the child or causes
the child to engage in sexual contact; or
(2)  with intent to arouse or gratify the sexual desire
(A)  exposes the person's anus or any part of the
person's genitals, knowing the child is present; or
(B)  causes the child to expose the child's anus
or any part of the child's genitals.
SECTION 2.  Section 22.011(c)(1), Penal Code, is amended to
(1)  "Child" means a person younger than 18 [17] years
SECTION 3.  Section 1(1), Article 38.074, Code of Criminal
Procedure, is amended to read as follows:
(1)  "Child" means a person younger than 17 years of age
[has the meaning assigned by Section 22.011(c), Penal Code].
SECTION 4.  Article 42A.453(c), Code of Criminal Procedure,
(c)  If a judge grants community supervision to a defendant
described by Subsection (b) and the judge determines that a child
younger than 17 years of age [as defined by Section 22.011(c), Penal
Code,] was the victim of the offense, the judge shall establish a
child safety zone applicable to the defendant by requiring as a
condition of community supervision that the defendant:
(A)  supervise or participate in any program that:
(i)  includes as participants or recipients
persons who are 17 years of age or younger; and
(ii)  regularly provides athletic, civic, or
(B)  go in, on, or within 1,000 feet of a premises
where children commonly gather, including a school, day-care
facility, playground, public or private youth center, public
swimming pool, video arcade facility, or general residential
operation operating as a residential treatment center; and
(2)  attend psychological counseling sessions for sex
offenders with an individual or organization that provides sex
offender treatment or counseling as specified or approved by the
judge or the defendant's supervision officer.
SECTION 5.  Section 508.187(b), Government Code, is amended
(b)  A parole panel shall establish a child safety zone
applicable to a releasee if the panel determines that a child
younger than 17 years of age [as defined by Section 22.011(c), Penal
Code,] was the victim of the offense, by requiring as a condition of
parole or mandatory supervision that the releasee:
(A)  supervise or participate in any program that
includes as participants or recipients persons who are 17 years of
age or younger and that regularly provides athletic, civic, or
(B)  go in, on, or within a distance specified by
the panel of premises where children commonly gather, including a
school, day-care facility, playground, public or private youth
center, public swimming pool, or video arcade facility; and
(2)  attend for a period of time determined necessary
by the panel psychological counseling sessions for sex offenders
with an individual or organization that provides sex offender
treatment or counseling as specified by the parole officer
supervising the releasee after release.
SECTION 6.  The changes in law made by this Act apply 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 7.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

Bill Sponsors

Legislators who authored or co-sponsored this bill.

Bill History

filed

Bill filed: AN ACT relating to the prosecution of the offenses of indecency with a