H.B. No. 2529
AN ACT
relating to the definition of coercion for purposes of the offense
of trafficking of persons.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 20A.02, Penal Code, is amended by adding
Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:
(a-1) For purposes of Subsection (a)(3), "coercion" as
defined by Section 1.07 includes destroying, concealing,
confiscating, or withholding from the trafficked person, or
threatening to destroy, conceal, confiscate, or withhold from the
trafficked person, the trafficked person's actual or purported:
(1) government records; or
(2) identifying information or documents.
SECTION 2. 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 on the date 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 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2529 was passed by the House on May 4,
2017, by the following vote: Yeas 143, Nays 0, 2 present, not
voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
No. 2529 on May 25, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 142, Nays 0,
3 present, not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2529 was passed by the Senate, with
amendments, on May 23, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays
0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________
Date
__________________
Governor