H.B. No. 888
AN ACT
relating to creating the criminal offense of misrepresenting a
child as a family member at a port of entry.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 37, Penal Code, is amended by adding
Section 37.082 to read as follows:
Sec. 37.082. MISREPRESENTING CHILD AS FAMILY MEMBER AT PORT
OF ENTRY. (a) In this section:
(1) "Child" means a person younger than 18 years of
age.
(2) "Family member" means a person who is related to
another person by consanguinity or affinity.
(3) "Port of entry" means a place designated by
executive order of the president of the United States, by order of
the United States secretary of the treasury, or by act of the United
States Congress at which a customs officer is authorized to enforce
customs laws.
(b) A person commits an offense if the person, with intent
to commit an offense under Section 20A.02, knowingly misrepresents
a child as a family member of the person to a peace officer or
federal special investigator at a port of entry.
(c) An offense under this section is a Class B misdemeanor.
(d) If conduct that constitutes an offense under this
section also constitutes an offense under another law, the actor
may be prosecuted under this section, the other law, or both.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 888 was passed by the House on May 2,
2019, by the following vote: Yeas 94, Nays 46, 2 present, not
voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
No. 888 on May 23, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 100, Nays 43,
1 present, not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 888 was passed by the Senate, with
amendments, on May 21, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays
1.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________
Date
__________________
Governor