Bill Text: TX SB1377 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to human trafficking signs at abortion facilities and offenses associated with human trafficking and coerced abortion; increasing criminal penalties.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-03-16 - Referred to State Affairs [SB1377 Detail]

Download: Texas-2017-SB1377-Introduced.html
  85R12944 SCL-F
 
  By: Buckingham S.B. No. 1377
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to human trafficking signs at abortion facilities and
  offenses associated with human trafficking and coerced abortion;
  increasing criminal penalties.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 245, Health and Safety Code, is amended
  by adding Section 245.025 to read as follows:
         Sec. 245.025.  HUMAN TRAFFICKING SIGNS REQUIRED. (a) An
  abortion facility shall display a sign in accordance with this
  section in each patient admission area, waiting room, restroom, and
  patient consulting room.  The sign must state:
         WARNING: Obtaining forced labor or services is a crime under
  Texas law. If you or someone you know is a victim of such a crime,
  you are encouraged to call the national human trafficking hotline
  at 1-888-373-7888. You may remain anonymous.
         (b)  A sign required under this section must be in English
  and Spanish. If an abortion facility is located in a political
  subdivision required to provide election materials in a language
  other than English or Spanish under Section 272.011, Election Code,
  the sign must also be in that language.
         (c)  A sign required under this section must be at least
  8-1/2 by 11 inches in size and displayed in a conspicuous manner
  clearly visible to the public and employees of an abortion
  facility. The notice must cover at least four-fifths of the sign.
         (d)  The executive commissioner shall adopt rules as
  necessary to implement and enforce this section.
         SECTION 2.  Section 20A.02(b), Penal Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (b)  Except as otherwise provided by this subsection, an
  offense under this section is a felony of the second degree.  An
  offense under this section is a felony of the first degree if:
               (1)  the applicable conduct constitutes an offense
  under Subsection (a)(5), (6), (7), or (8), regardless of whether
  the actor knows the age of the child at the time the actor commits
  the offense; [or]
               (2)  the commission of the offense results in the death
  of the person who is trafficked; or
               (3)  the commission of the offense results in the death
  of an unborn child of the person who is trafficked in violation of
  Chapter 19.
         SECTION 3.  Section 22.01, Penal Code, is amended by adding
  Subsection (c-1) to read as follows:
         (c-1)  Notwithstanding Subsections (b), (b-1), and (c), an
  offense under Subsection (a)(1) or (2) is a felony of the second
  degree if the actor intentionally or knowingly used force or the
  threat of force to compel a woman to receive an abortion.
         SECTION 4.  (a) Not later than December 1, 2017, the
  executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission
  shall adopt the rules necessary to implement Section 245.025,
  Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act.
         (b)  An abortion facility is not required to comply with
  Section 245.025, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act,
  before January 1, 2018.
         SECTION 5.  Sections 20A.02 and 22.01, Penal Code, as
  amended 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 that 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 was committed before that date.
         SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
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