By: Riddle H.B. No. 3680
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to creating the offense of contributing to the delinquency
of a child.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 22, Penal Code, is amended by adding
Section 22.042 to read as follows:
Sec. 22.042. CONTRIBUTING TO DELINQUENCY OF A CHILD. (a) A
person commits an offense if the person is 17 years of age or older
and intentionally or knowingly causes or encourages a child to:
(1) engage in specific conduct that, under the
circumstances surrounding the actor's conduct, would cause the
child to be present during the commission of a felony; or
(2) enter or remain in a place where:
(A) a controlled substance, a controlled
substance analogue, drug paraphernalia, or marihuana, as defined by
Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code, is used, possessed,
manufactured, or distributed; or
(B) prostitution is practiced.
(b) In this section:
(1) "Child" means any person younger than 17 years of
age.
(2) "Place" means:
(A) the grounds of a park, lot, or parcel of land;
or
(B) a building or a portion of a building,
including a distinct residential or lodging unit, but not including
a residential or lodging structure that does not have a living area
in common.
(c) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.
(d) If conduct constituting an offense under this section
also constitutes an offense under another section of this code, the
actor may be prosecuted under either section or under both
sections.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.