87R20264 JRR-D By: Swanson, Tinderholt, Pacheco, Dominguez, H.B. No. 1400 et al. A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the creation of the criminal offense of impersonating a private investigator. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter P, Chapter 1702, Occupations Code, is amended by adding Section 1702.3876 to read as follows: Sec. 1702.3876. IMPERSONATING PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR; OFFENSE. (a) A person commits an offense if the person: (1) impersonates a private investigator with the intent to induce another to submit to the person's pretended authority or to rely on the person's pretended acts of a private investigator; or (2) knowingly purports to exercise any function that requires licensure as a private investigator. (b) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor, except that the offense is a felony of the third degree if it is shown on the trial of the offense that the defendant has previously been convicted of an offense under this section. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.