By: Kolkhorst S.B. No. 666
(In the Senate - Filed January 30, 2017; February 15, 2017,
read first time and referred to Committee on Business & Commerce;
April 24, 2017, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 9, Nays 0; April 24, 2017,
sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 666 By: Creighton
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a sign required to be posted in the restrooms of
sexually oriented businesses; creating a criminal offense.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 102, Business & Commerce Code, is
amended by adding Subchapter C to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER C. NOTICE REQUIREMENTS ON PREMISES OF SEXUALLY ORIENTED
BUSINESSES
Sec. 102.101. POSTING OF CERTAIN SIGN REQUIRED. (a) A
sexually oriented business shall post by the sink area in each
restroom on the premises one sign that directs a victim of human
trafficking to contact the National Human Trafficking Resource
Center. Except as provided by Subsection (c), the sign must be 11
inches by 17 inches in size.
(b) The attorney general by rule shall prescribe the design,
content, and manner of display of the sign required by this section.
The sign must:
(1) be in both English and Spanish; and
(2) include the telephone number and Internet website
of the National Human Trafficking Resource Center.
(c) The attorney general by rule may require the sign to:
(1) be in an additional language other than English or
Spanish;
(2) be larger than 11 inches by 17 inches in size if
the attorney general determines that a larger sign is appropriate;
and
(3) include other information the attorney general
considers necessary and appropriate.
Sec. 102.102. CRIMINAL PENALTY. (a) A person commits an
offense if the person:
(1) is an owner or operator of a sexually oriented
business; and
(2) fails to post the sign required by Section 102.101
in compliance with that section and rules adopted under that
section.
(b) An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor.
If it is shown on the trial of an offense under this section that the
person has previously been convicted of an offense under this
section, the offense is a Class B misdemeanor.
SECTION 2. (a) The attorney general shall adopt rules to
implement Section 102.101, Business & Commerce Code, as added by
this Act, not later than September 1, 2018.
(b) Each sexually oriented business shall post the sign
required by Section 102.101, Business & Commerce Code, as added by
this Act, not later than March 1, 2019.
SECTION 3. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of
this section, this Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
(b) Section 102.102, Business & Commerce Code, as added by
this Act, takes effect March 1, 2019.
* * * * *