Bill Text: TX HB5026 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to the definition of abuse of a child.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-03-23 - Referred to Public Health [HB5026 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-HB5026-Introduced.html
  88R12594 BDP-D
 
  By: Bryant H.B. No. 5026
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the definition of abuse of a child.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 261.001, Family Code, is amended by
  amending Subdivision (1) and adding Subdivisions (1-a), (3-a), and
  (10) to read as follows:
               (1)  "Abuse" includes the following acts or omissions
  by a person:
                     (A)  mental or emotional injury to a child that
  results in an observable and material impairment in the child's
  growth, development, or psychological functioning;
                     (B)  causing or permitting the child to be in a
  situation in which the child sustains a mental or emotional injury
  that results in an observable and material impairment in the
  child's growth, development, or psychological functioning;
                     (C)  physical injury that results in substantial
  harm to the child, or the genuine threat of substantial harm from
  physical injury to the child, including an injury that is at
  variance with the history or explanation given and excluding an
  accident or reasonable discipline by a parent, guardian, or
  managing or possessory conservator that does not expose the child
  to a substantial risk of harm;
                     (D)  failure to make a reasonable effort to
  prevent an action by another person that results in physical injury
  that results in substantial harm to the child;
                     (E)  sexual conduct harmful to a child's mental,
  emotional, or physical welfare, including conduct that constitutes
  the offense of continuous sexual abuse of young child or disabled
  individual under Section 21.02, Penal Code, indecency with a child
  under Section 21.11, Penal Code, sexual assault under Section
  22.011, Penal Code, or aggravated sexual assault under Section
  22.021, Penal Code;
                     (F)  failure to make a reasonable effort to
  prevent sexual conduct harmful to a child;
                     (G)  compelling or encouraging the child to engage
  in sexual conduct as defined by Section 43.01, Penal Code,
  including compelling or encouraging the child in a manner that
  constitutes an offense of trafficking of persons under Section
  20A.02(a)(7) or (8), Penal Code, solicitation of prostitution under
  Section 43.021, Penal Code, or compelling prostitution under
  Section 43.05(a)(2), Penal Code;
                     (H)  causing, permitting, encouraging, engaging
  in, or allowing the photographing, filming, or depicting of the
  child if the person knew or should have known that the resulting
  photograph, film, or depiction of the child is obscene as defined by
  Section 43.21, Penal Code, or pornographic;
                     (I)  the current use by a person of a controlled
  substance as defined by Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code, in a
  manner or to the extent that the use results in physical, mental, or
  emotional injury to a child;
                     (J)  causing, expressly permitting, or
  encouraging a child to use a controlled substance as defined by
  Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code;
                     (K)  causing, permitting, encouraging, engaging
  in, or allowing a sexual performance by a child as defined by
  Section 43.25, Penal Code;
                     (L)  knowingly causing, permitting, encouraging,
  engaging in, or allowing a child to be trafficked in a manner
  punishable as an offense under Section 20A.02(a)(5), (6), (7), or
  (8), Penal Code, or the failure to make a reasonable effort to
  prevent a child from being trafficked in a manner punishable as an
  offense under any of those sections; [or]
                     (M)  forcing or coercing a child to enter into a
  marriage; or
                     (N)  forcing, coercing, or causing a child to
  undergo conversion therapy.
               (1-a)  "Conversion therapy":
                     (A)  means a practice or treatment a health care
  provider, including a health care provider who is affiliated with a
  religious organization, provides to an individual that attempts to:
                           (i)  change the individual's sexual
  orientation, including by attempting to change the individual's
  behavior, gender identity, or expression of gender; or
                           (ii)  eliminate or reduce the individual's
  sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward other individuals
  of the same sex; and
                     (B)  does not mean a practice or treatment a
  health care provider, including a health care provider who is
  affiliated with a religious organization, provides to an individual
  that:
                           (i)  provides acceptance, support, and
  understanding or facilitates coping, social support, and identity
  exploration and development, including sexual orientation-neutral
  interventions to prevent or address unlawful conduct or unsafe
  sexual practices; and
                           (ii)  does not attempt to change the
  individual's sexual orientation or gender identity.
               (3-a)  "Gender identity" means the gender-related
  identity, appearance, or other gender-related characteristics of
  an individual with or without regard to the individual's designated
  sex at birth.
               (10)  "Sexual orientation" means an individual's actual
  or perceived heterosexuality, bisexuality, or homosexuality.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
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