86R11072 KJE-F
By: Farrar H.B. No. 3561
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of the criminal offense of continuous
sexual assault.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 22, Penal Code, is amended by adding
Section 22.022 to read as follows:
Sec. 22.022. CONTINUOUS SEXUAL ASSAULT. (a) A person
commits an offense if, during a period that is 30 or more days in
duration, the person commits two or more acts of sexual assault,
regardless of whether the acts of sexual assault are committed
against one or more victims.
(b) For purposes of this section, "act of sexual assault"
means any act that is a violation of Section 22.011 or 22.021.
(c) If a jury is the trier of fact, members of the jury are
not required to agree unanimously on which specific acts of sexual
assault were committed by the defendant or the exact date when those
acts were committed. The jury must agree unanimously that the
defendant, during a period that is 30 or more days in duration,
committed two or more acts of sexual assault.
(d) A defendant may not be convicted in the same criminal
action of an offense listed under Subsection (b) the victim of which
is the same victim as a victim of the offense alleged under
Subsection (a) unless the offense listed in Subsection (b):
(1) is charged in the alternative;
(2) occurred outside the period in which the offense
alleged under Subsection (a) was committed; or
(3) is considered by the trier of fact to be a lesser
included offense of the offense alleged under Subsection (a).
(e) A defendant may not be charged with more than one count
under Subsection (a) if all of the specific acts of sexual assault
that are alleged to have been committed are alleged to have been
committed against a single victim.
(f) An offense under this section is a felony of the first
degree, punishable by imprisonment in the Texas Department of
Criminal Justice for life, or for any term of not more than 99 years
or less than 25 years.
(g) If conduct that constitutes an offense under this
section also constitutes an offense under Section 21.02, the actor
may be prosecuted under this section or Section 21.02.
SECTION 2. Article 12.01, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
amended to read as follows:
Art. 12.01. FELONIES. Except as provided in Article 12.03,
felony indictments may be presented within these limits, and not
afterward:
(1) no limitation:
(A) murder and manslaughter;
(B) sexual assault under Section 22.011(a)(2),
Penal Code, or aggravated sexual assault under Section
22.021(a)(1)(B), Penal Code;
(C) sexual assault or continuous sexual assault,
if:
(i) during the investigation of the offense
biological matter is collected and subjected to forensic DNA
testing and the testing results show that the matter does not match
the victim or any other person whose identity is readily
ascertained; or
(ii) probable cause exists to believe that
the defendant has committed the same or a similar sexual offense
against five or more victims;
(D) continuous sexual abuse of young child or
children under Section 21.02, Penal Code;
(E) indecency with a child under Section 21.11,
Penal Code;
(F) an offense involving leaving the scene of an
accident under Section 550.021, Transportation Code, if the
accident resulted in the death of a person;
(G) trafficking of persons under Section
20A.02(a)(7) or (8), Penal Code;
(H) continuous trafficking of persons under
Section 20A.03, Penal Code; or
(I) compelling prostitution under Section
43.05(a)(2), Penal Code;
(2) ten years from the date of the commission of the
offense:
(A) theft of any estate, real, personal or mixed,
by an executor, administrator, guardian or trustee, with intent to
defraud any creditor, heir, legatee, ward, distributee,
beneficiary or settlor of a trust interested in such estate;
(B) theft by a public servant of government
property over which he exercises control in his official capacity;
(C) forgery or the uttering, using or passing of
forged instruments;
(D) injury to an elderly or disabled individual
punishable as a felony of the first degree under Section 22.04,
Penal Code;
(E) sexual assault or continuous sexual assault,
except as provided by Subdivision (1);
(F) arson;
(G) trafficking of persons under Section
20A.02(a)(1), (2), (3), or (4), Penal Code; or
(H) compelling prostitution under Section
43.05(a)(1), Penal Code;
(3) seven years from the date of the commission of the
offense:
(A) misapplication of fiduciary property or
property of a financial institution;
(B) securing execution of document by deception;
(C) a felony violation under Chapter 162, Tax
Code;
(D) false statement to obtain property or credit
under Section 32.32, Penal Code;
(E) money laundering;
(F) credit card or debit card abuse under Section
32.31, Penal Code;
(G) fraudulent use or possession of identifying
information under Section 32.51, Penal Code;
(H) exploitation of a child, elderly individual,
or disabled individual under Section 32.53, Penal Code;
(I) Medicaid fraud under Section 35A.02, Penal
Code; or
(J) bigamy under Section 25.01, Penal Code,
except as provided by Subdivision (6);
(4) five years from the date of the commission of the
offense:
(A) theft or robbery;
(B) except as provided by Subdivision (5),
kidnapping or burglary;
(C) injury to an elderly or disabled individual
that is not punishable as a felony of the first degree under Section
22.04, Penal Code;
(D) abandoning or endangering a child; or
(E) insurance fraud;
(5) if the investigation of the offense shows that the
victim is younger than 17 years of age at the time the offense is
committed, 20 years from the 18th birthday of the victim of one of
the following offenses:
(A) sexual performance by a child under Section
43.25, Penal Code;
(B) aggravated kidnapping under Section
20.04(a)(4), Penal Code, if the defendant committed the offense
with the intent to violate or abuse the victim sexually; or
(C) burglary under Section 30.02, Penal Code, if
the offense is punishable under Subsection (d) of that section and
the defendant committed the offense with the intent to commit an
offense described by Subdivision (1)(B) or (D) of this article or
Paragraph (B) of this subdivision;
(6) ten years from the 18th birthday of the victim of
the offense:
(A) trafficking of persons under Section
20A.02(a)(5) or (6), Penal Code;
(B) injury to a child under Section 22.04, Penal
Code; or
(C) bigamy under Section 25.01, Penal Code, if
the investigation of the offense shows that the person, other than
the legal spouse of the defendant, whom the defendant marries or
purports to marry or with whom the defendant lives under the
appearance of being married is younger than 18 years of age at the
time the offense is committed; or
(7) three years from the date of the commission of the
offense: all other felonies.
SECTION 3. Article 42A.054(a), Code of Criminal Procedure,
is amended to read as follows:
(a) Article 42A.053 does not apply to a defendant adjudged
guilty of an offense under:
(1) Section 15.03, Penal Code, if the offense is
punishable as a felony of the first degree;
(2) Section 19.02, Penal Code (Murder);
(3) Section 19.03, Penal Code (Capital Murder);
(4) Section 20.04, Penal Code (Aggravated
Kidnapping);
(5) Section 20A.02, Penal Code (Trafficking of
Persons);
(6) Section 21.11(a)(1), Penal Code (Indecency with a
Child);
(7) Section 22.011, Penal Code (Sexual Assault);
(8) Section 22.021, Penal Code (Aggravated Sexual
Assault);
(9) Section 22.022, Penal Code (Continuous Sexual
Assault);
(10) Section 22.04(a)(1), Penal Code (Injury to a
Child, Elderly Individual, or Disabled Individual), if:
(A) the offense is punishable as a felony of the
first degree; and
(B) the victim of the offense is a child;
(11) [(10)] Section 29.03, Penal Code (Aggravated
Robbery);
(12) [(11)] Section 30.02, Penal Code (Burglary), if:
(A) the offense is punishable under Subsection
(d) of that section; and
(B) the actor committed the offense with the
intent to commit a felony under Section 21.02, 21.11, 22.011,
22.021, 22.022, or 25.02, Penal Code;
(13) [(12)] Section 43.05, Penal Code (Compelling
Prostitution);
(14) [(13)] Section 43.25, Penal Code (Sexual
Performance by a Child); or
(15) [(14)] Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code, for
which punishment is increased under:
(A) Section 481.140 of that code (Use of Child in
Commission of Offense); or
(B) Section 481.134(c), (d), (e), or (f) of that
code (Drug-free Zones) if it is shown that the defendant has been
previously convicted of an offense for which punishment was
increased under any of those subsections.
SECTION 4. Articles 62.001(5) and (6), Code of Criminal
Procedure, are amended to read as follows:
(5) "Reportable conviction or adjudication" means a
conviction or adjudication, including an adjudication of
delinquent conduct or a deferred adjudication, that, regardless of
the pendency of an appeal, is a conviction for or an adjudication
for or based on:
(A) a violation of Section 21.02 (Continuous
sexual abuse of young child or children), 21.09 (Bestiality), 21.11
(Indecency with a child), 22.011 (Sexual assault), 22.021
(Aggravated sexual assault), 22.022 (Continuous sexual assault),
or 25.02 (Prohibited sexual conduct), Penal Code;
(B) a violation of Section 43.05 (Compelling
prostitution), 43.25 (Sexual performance by a child), or 43.26
(Possession or promotion of child pornography), Penal Code;
(B-1) a violation of Section 43.02
(Prostitution), Penal Code, if the offense is punishable under
Subsection (c-1)(3) of that section;
(C) a violation of Section 20.04(a)(4)
(Aggravated kidnapping), Penal Code, if the actor committed the
offense or engaged in the conduct with intent to violate or abuse
the victim sexually;
(D) a violation of Section 30.02 (Burglary),
Penal Code, if the offense or conduct is punishable under
Subsection (d) of that section and the actor committed the offense
or engaged in the conduct with intent to commit a felony listed in
Paragraph (A) or (C);
(E) a violation of Section 20.02 (Unlawful
restraint), 20.03 (Kidnapping), or 20.04 (Aggravated kidnapping),
Penal Code, if, as applicable:
(i) the judgment in the case contains an
affirmative finding under Article 42.015; or
(ii) the order in the hearing or the papers
in the case contain an affirmative finding that the victim or
intended victim was younger than 17 years of age;
(F) the second violation of Section 21.08
(Indecent exposure), Penal Code, but not if the second violation
results in a deferred adjudication;
(G) an attempt, conspiracy, or solicitation, as
defined by Chapter 15, Penal Code, to commit an offense or engage in
conduct listed in Paragraph (A), (B), (C), (D), (E), (K), or (L);
(H) a violation of the laws of another state,
federal law, the laws of a foreign country, or the Uniform Code of
Military Justice for or based on the violation of an offense
containing elements that are substantially similar to the elements
of an offense listed under Paragraph (A), (B), (B-1), (C), (D), (E),
(G), (J), (K), or (L), but not if the violation results in a
deferred adjudication;
(I) the second violation of the laws of another
state, federal law, the laws of a foreign country, or the Uniform
Code of Military Justice for or based on the violation of an offense
containing elements that are substantially similar to the elements
of the offense of indecent exposure, but not if the second violation
results in a deferred adjudication;
(J) a violation of Section 33.021 (Online
solicitation of a minor), Penal Code;
(K) a violation of Section 20A.02(a)(3), (4),
(7), or (8) (Trafficking of persons), Penal Code; or
(L) a violation of Section 20A.03 (Continuous
trafficking of persons), Penal Code, if the offense is based partly
or wholly on conduct that constitutes an offense under Section
20A.02(a)(3), (4), (7), or (8) of that code.
(6) "Sexually violent offense" means any of the
following offenses committed by a person 17 years of age or older:
(A) an offense under Section 21.02 (Continuous
sexual abuse of young child or children), 21.11(a)(1) (Indecency
with a child), 22.011 (Sexual assault), [or] 22.021 (Aggravated
sexual assault), or 22.022 (Continuous sexual assault), Penal Code;
(B) an offense under Section 43.25 (Sexual
performance by a child), Penal Code;
(C) an offense under Section 20.04(a)(4)
(Aggravated kidnapping), Penal Code, if the defendant committed the
offense with intent to violate or abuse the victim sexually;
(D) an offense under Section 30.02 (Burglary),
Penal Code, if the offense is punishable under Subsection (d) of
that section and the defendant committed the offense with intent to
commit a felony listed in Paragraph (A) or (C) of Subdivision (5);
or
(E) an offense under the laws of another state,
federal law, the laws of a foreign country, or the Uniform Code of
Military Justice if the offense contains elements that are
substantially similar to the elements of an offense listed under
Paragraph (A), (B), (C), or (D).
SECTION 5. Section 3.03(b), Penal Code, is amended to read
as follows:
(b) If the accused is found guilty of more than one offense
arising out of the same criminal episode, the sentences may run
concurrently or consecutively if each sentence is for a conviction
of:
(1) an offense:
(A) under Section 49.07 or 49.08, regardless of
whether the accused is convicted of violations of the same section
more than once or is convicted of violations of both sections; or
(B) for which a plea agreement was reached in a
case in which the accused was charged with more than one offense
listed in Paragraph (A), regardless of whether the accused is
charged with violations of the same section more than once or is
charged with violations of both sections;
(2) an offense:
(A) under Section 33.021 or an offense under
Section 21.02, 21.11, 22.011, 22.021, 22.022, 25.02, or 43.25
committed against a victim younger than 17 years of age at the time
of the commission of the offense regardless of whether the accused
is convicted of violations of the same section more than once or is
convicted of violations of more than one section; or
(B) for which a plea agreement was reached in a
case in which the accused was charged with more than one offense
listed in Paragraph (A) committed against a victim younger than 17
years of age at the time of the commission of the offense regardless
of whether the accused is charged with violations of the same
section more than once or is charged with violations of more than
one section;
(3) an offense:
(A) under Section 21.15 or 43.26, regardless of
whether the accused is convicted of violations of the same section
more than once or is convicted of violations of both sections; or
(B) for which a plea agreement was reached in a
case in which the accused was charged with more than one offense
listed in Paragraph (A), regardless of whether the accused is
charged with violations of the same section more than once or is
charged with violations of both sections;
(4) an offense for which the judgment in the case
contains an affirmative finding under Article 42.0197, Code of
Criminal Procedure;
(5) an offense:
(A) under Section 20A.02 or 43.05, regardless of
whether the accused is convicted of violations of the same section
more than once or is convicted of violations of both sections; or
(B) for which a plea agreement was reached in a
case in which the accused was charged with more than one offense
listed in Paragraph (A), regardless of whether the accused is
charged with violations of the same section more than once or is
charged with violations of both sections; or
(6) an offense:
(A) under Section 22.04(a)(1) or (2) or Section
22.04(a-1)(1) or (2) that is punishable as a felony of the first
degree, regardless of whether the accused is convicted of
violations of the same section more than once or is convicted of
violations of more than one section; or
(B) for which a plea agreement was reached in a
case in which the accused was charged with more than one offense
listed in Paragraph (A) and punishable as described by that
paragraph, regardless of whether the accused is charged with
violations of the same section more than once or is charged with
violations of more than one section.
SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.