HB 1255
AN ACT relating to increasing the criminal penalty for certain offenses
89th Regular Session
Jan 14, 2025 - Jun 2, 2025 • Session ended
Awaiting Committee Assignment
Bill filed, pending referral to House committee
Committee
Not yet assigned
Fiscal Note
Not available
What This Bill Does
Increases criminal penalties for professionals (like teachers, doctors, or counselors) who commit offenses against children under their care or supervision. If a professional commits a specific type of offense against a child in their care, they will face a more severe punishment - either elevated to the next higher offense category or, in the case of Class A misdemeanors, a mandatory minimum of 180 days in confinement. The law applies to offenses committed on or after September 1, 2025, and aims to provide stronger legal consequences for professionals who abuse their position of trust with children.
Subject Areas
Bill Text
relating to increasing the criminal penalty for certain offenses committed by a professional who is required to report child abuse or neglect and against a child under the care of that professional. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 12, Penal Code, is amended by adding Section 12.503 to read as follows: Sec. 12.503. PROFESSIONALS REQUIRED TO REPORT CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT: PENALTY FOR CERTAIN OFFENSES COMMITTED AGAINST CHILDREN UNDER THEIR CARE. (a) Subject to Subsection (c), the punishment for an offense described by Subsection (b) is increased to the punishment prescribed for the next higher category of offense if it is shown on the trial of the offense that the offense was committed: (1) by a professional, as defined by Section 261.101, (2) against a child who, at the time of the offense, was under the professional's care, custody, or control. (b) The increase in punishment authorized by this section applies only to an offense under: (c) If an offense listed under Subsection (b) is punishable as a Class A misdemeanor, the minimum term of confinement for the offense is increased to 180 days. If an offense listed under Subsection (b) is punishable as a felony of the first degree, the punishment for that offense may not be increased under this SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies 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 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
Bill Sponsors
Legislators who authored or co-sponsored this bill.
Bill History
Bill filed: AN ACT relating to increasing the criminal penalty for certain offenses
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