By: Williams S.B. No. 2195
(In the Senate - Filed March 13, 2009; March 31, 2009, read
first time and referred to Committee on International Relations and
Trade; April 16, 2009, reported favorably by the following vote:
Yeas 6, Nays 0; April 16, 2009, sent to printer.)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of and penalties for certain offenses that
take place at or involve an attempt to cross an international
border.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 12, Penal Code, is amended
by adding Section 12.50 to read as follows:
Sec. 12.50. PENALTIES FOR CERTAIN OFFENSES COMMITTED ON
INTERNATIONAL BRIDGE. An offense under Section 31.07, 46.02, or
46.05 is a felony of the second degree if the person who committed
the offense was, at the time the offense was committed, traveling on
an international bridge toward Mexico.
SECTION 2. Section 38.05, Penal Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (e) to read as
follows:
(c) Except as provided by Subsections [Subsection] (d) and
(e), an offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.
(e) An offense under this section is a felony of the second
degree if the person who harbored or concealed another, provided
another with a means of avoiding arrest or effecting an escape, or
warned another of discovery or apprehension had the intent to
transport the other person across an international boundary.
SECTION 3. Chapter 46, Penal Code, is amended by adding
Section 46.14 to read as follows:
Sec. 46.14. UNLAWFUL TRANSPORTATION OF CURRENCY. (a) A
person commits an offense if the person, with the intent to evade a
currency reporting requirement under 31 U.S.C. Section 5316 while
traveling on an international bridge toward Mexico, knowingly
conceals more than $10,000 in currency or other monetary
instruments on the person or in any conveyance, article of luggage,
merchandise, or other container.
(b) An offense under this section is a felony of the second
degree.
SECTION 4. The change in law made by this Act applies only
to an offense committed on or after September 1, 2009. An offense
committed before September 1, 2009, 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 September 1, 2009, if any element of the
offense occurred before that date.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.
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