HB 1264
AN ACT relating to the prosecution of the offenses of indecency with a
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
Modifies Texas laws related to sexual offenses involving minors by changing the definition of "child" from 17 to 18 years old across multiple sections of the Penal Code and Criminal Procedure Code. The change expands legal protections for individuals under 18, making it a more serious offense to engage in sexual contact or exposure with anyone under that age. For individuals convicted of such offenses, the bill maintains existing requirements for community supervision and parole, including establishing child safety zones that restrict proximity to places where children gather and mandating psychological counseling for sex offenders. The law will apply only to offenses committed on or after September 1, 2025.
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
Bill filed: AN ACT relating to the prosecution of the offenses of indecency with a
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