Bill Text: TX SB278 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Introduced

Texas Senate Bill 278 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Relating to prohibiting making, or encouraging or inducing another to make, silent or abusive calls to a 9-1-1 service or public safety answering point; creating a criminal offense.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-02-07 - Referred to Criminal Justice [SB278 Detail]

Download: Texas-2019-SB278-Introduced.html

	86R3290 TSS-D

	By: Menéndez	S.B. No. 278



	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to prohibiting making, or encouraging or inducing another
	to make, silent or abusive calls to a 9-1-1 service or public safety
	answering point; creating a criminal offense.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. The heading to Section 42.061, Penal Code, is
	amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 42.061. SILENT OR ABUSIVE CALLS TO 9-1-1 SERVICE OR
	PUBLIC SAFETY ANSWERING POINT.
	SECTION 2. Section 42.061, Penal Code, is amended by
	amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c-1) to read as
	follows:
	(b) A person commits an offense if the person makes a call to
	a 9-1-1 service or PSAP, or requests 9-1-1 service or PSAP
	assistance using an electronic communications device, when there is
	not an emergency and knowingly or intentionally:
	(1) remains silent; or
	(2) makes abusive or harassing statements to a PSAP
	employee.
	(c-1) A person commits an offense if, with intent to harass,
	annoy, alarm, abuse, torment, or embarrass a PSAP employee or other
	public servant, the person encourages or induces another to make a
	call to a 9-1-1 service or PSAP or request 9-1-1 service or PSAP
	assistance using an electronic communications device.
	SECTION 3. 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 when 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 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.