| 1 | 1 | | 84R8284 PMO-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Kolkhorst S.B. No. 475 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to a property right in certain DNA samples; providing |
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| 8 | 8 | | injunctive relief and a civil penalty; creating a criminal offense. |
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| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. Title 1, Property Code, is amended by adding |
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| 11 | 11 | | Chapter 3 to read as follows: |
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| 12 | 12 | | CHAPTER 3. PROPERTY RIGHT IN CERTAIN DNA SAMPLES |
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| 13 | 13 | | Sec. 3.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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| 14 | 14 | | (1) "DNA" means deoxyribonucleic acid. |
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| 15 | 15 | | (2) "DNA sample" means a blood sample or other |
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| 16 | 16 | | biological sample or specimen provided by an individual for the |
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| 17 | 17 | | purpose of conducting DNA analysis or storage. |
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| 18 | 18 | | (3) "Genetic characteristic" means a scientifically |
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| 19 | 19 | | or medically identifiable genetic or chromosomal variation, |
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| 20 | 20 | | composition, or alteration that predisposes an individual to a |
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| 21 | 21 | | disease, disorder, or syndrome. |
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| 22 | 22 | | (4) "Genetic test" means a presymptomatic laboratory |
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| 23 | 23 | | test of an individual's genes, products, or chromosomes that: |
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| 24 | 24 | | (A) analyzes the individual's DNA, RNA, |
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| 25 | 25 | | proteins, or chromosomes; and |
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| 26 | 26 | | (B) is performed to identify a genetic |
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| 27 | 27 | | characteristic. |
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| 28 | 28 | | (5) "Property right" means the property right created |
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| 29 | 29 | | by this chapter. |
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| 30 | 30 | | (6) "RNA" means ribonucleic acid. |
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| 31 | 31 | | Sec. 3.002. PROPERTY RIGHT ESTABLISHED. (a) Subject to |
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| 32 | 32 | | Subsection (b), an individual has an exclusive property right in a |
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| 33 | 33 | | DNA sample provided by the individual. A person may not, without |
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| 34 | 34 | | the informed, written consent of the individual or the individual's |
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| 35 | 35 | | legal guardian or authorized representative: |
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| 36 | 36 | | (1) collect a DNA sample from an individual; |
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| 37 | 37 | | (2) perform a genetic test on an individual's DNA |
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| 38 | 38 | | sample; or |
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| 39 | 39 | | (3) retain an individual's DNA sample. |
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| 40 | 40 | | (b) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), this chapter does not |
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| 41 | 41 | | apply to: |
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| 42 | 42 | | (1) a DNA sample collected for the purpose of |
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| 43 | 43 | | emergency medical treatment; |
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| 44 | 44 | | (2) a DNA sample collected for law enforcement |
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| 45 | 45 | | purposes, including the identification of a perpetrator and the |
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| 46 | 46 | | investigation of a crime, or identification of a missing, |
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| 47 | 47 | | unidentified, or deceased person; or |
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| 48 | 48 | | (3) any other similar use of a DNA sample under the |
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| 49 | 49 | | laws of this state or another jurisdiction. |
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| 50 | 50 | | Sec. 3.003. CIVIL PENALTY; INJUNCTION. (a) A person who |
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| 51 | 51 | | violates Section 3.002 is liable to the state for a civil penalty |
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| 52 | 52 | | not to exceed the amount of any profits that are attributable to the |
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| 53 | 53 | | violation. The amount of profits under this subsection may be |
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| 54 | 54 | | established by showing the gross revenue attributable to the |
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| 55 | 55 | | unauthorized use minus any expenses that the person who committed |
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| 56 | 56 | | the unauthorized use may prove. |
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| 57 | 57 | | (b) Subject to Subsection (a), the amount of a civil penalty |
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| 58 | 58 | | under this section shall be based on: |
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| 59 | 59 | | (1) the seriousness of the violation, including the |
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| 60 | 60 | | nature, circumstances, extent, and gravity of the violation; |
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| 61 | 61 | | (2) the economic harm caused by the violation; |
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| 62 | 62 | | (3) the history of previous violations; |
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| 63 | 63 | | (4) the amount necessary to deter a future violation; |
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| 64 | 64 | | (5) efforts to correct the violation; and |
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| 65 | 65 | | (6) any other matter that justice may require. |
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| 66 | 66 | | (c) If it appears that a person has violated Section 3.002, |
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| 67 | 67 | | the attorney general may institute an action for a civil penalty, |
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| 68 | 68 | | injunctive relief, or both. |
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| 69 | 69 | | (d) The attorney general may recover reasonable attorney's |
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| 70 | 70 | | fees and expenses and court costs incurred in recovering a civil |
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| 71 | 71 | | penalty or obtaining injunctive relief under this section. |
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| 72 | 72 | | Sec. 3.004. CRIMINAL PENALTY. A person commits an offense |
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| 73 | 73 | | if the person, with criminal negligence, violates Section 3.002. |
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| 74 | 74 | | An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor. |
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| 75 | 75 | | SECTION 2. Chapter 3, Property Code, as added by this Act, |
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| 76 | 76 | | applies only to a DNA sample collected or provided on or after the |
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| 77 | 77 | | effective date of this Act. A DNA sample collected or provided |
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| 78 | 78 | | before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law as it |
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| 79 | 79 | | existed immediately before that date, and that law is continued in |
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| 80 | 80 | | effect for that purpose. |
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| 81 | 81 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |
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