81R7753 HLT-D By: Gallego H.B. No. 4381 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the creation of the offense of directing the activities of a criminal street gang. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Chapter 71, Penal Code, is amended by adding Section 71.023 to read as follows: Sec. 71.023. DIRECTING ACTIVITIES OF A CRIMINAL STREET GANG. (a) A person commits an offense if the person knowingly initiates, organizes, plans, finances, directs, manages, or supervises a criminal street gang or members of a criminal street gang with the intent to benefit, to promote, or to further the interests of the criminal street gang or to increase the person's standing, position, or status in the criminal street gang. (b) An offense under this section is a felony of the first degree. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.