Bill Text: TX HB101 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Enrolled


Bill Title: Relating to the creation of the criminal offense of false caller identification information display.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2019-06-15 - Effective on 9/1/19 [HB101 Detail]

Download: Texas-2019-HB101-Enrolled.html
 
 
  H.B. No. 101
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the creation of the criminal offense of false caller
  identification information display.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 33A, Penal Code, is amended by adding
  Section 33A.051 to read as follows:
         Sec. 33A.051.  FALSE CALLER IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION
  DISPLAY. (a) A person commits an offense if the person, with the
  intent to defraud or cause harm, makes a call or engages in any
  other conduct using any type of technology that results in the
  display on another person's telecommunications device of data that
  misrepresents the actor's identity or telephone number.
         (b)  An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.
         (c)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, a
  conviction for an offense under this section may not be used for
  enhancement purposes under any other section of this chapter.
         (d)  It is a defense to prosecution that the actor:
               (1)  blocked caller identification information;
               (2)  was a peace officer or federal law enforcement
  officer lawfully discharging an official duty;
               (3)  was an officer, agent, or employee of a federal
  intelligence or security agency lawfully discharging an official
  duty;
               (4)  was an officer, agent, or employee of a
  telecommunications service provider who was:
                     (A)  acting in the provider's capacity as an
  intermediary for the transmission of telephone service, a Voice
  over Internet Protocol transmission, or another type of
  telecommunications transmission between the caller and the
  recipient;
                     (B)  providing or configuring a service or service
  feature as requested by a customer;
                     (C)  acting in a manner that is authorized or
  required by other law; or
                     (D)  engaging in other conduct that is a necessary
  incident to the provision of service; or
               (5)  was a private investigator licensed under Chapter
  1702, Occupations Code, lawfully conducting an investigation.
         (e)  For the purposes of this section, "telecommunications
  service provider" means a:
               (1)  telecommunications provider, as defined by
  Section 51.002, Utilities Code; or
               (2)  provider of telecommunications service, advanced
  communications services, or information service, as those terms are
  defined by 47 U.S.C. Section 153.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 101 was passed by the House on April
  2, 2019, by the following vote:  Yeas 147, Nays 0, 1 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 101 was passed by the Senate on May
  22, 2019, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor       
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