H.B. No. 3521
AN ACT
relating to the definition of coercion for purposes of trafficking
of persons.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 20A.01, Penal Code, is amended by adding
Subdivision (1-a) to read as follows:
(1-a) "Coercion" as defined by Section 1.07 includes:
(A) destroying, concealing, confiscating, or
withholding from a trafficked person, or threatening to destroy,
conceal, confiscate, or withhold from a trafficked person, the
person's actual or purported:
(i) government records; or
(ii) identifying information or documents;
(B) causing a trafficked person, without the
person's consent, to become intoxicated, as defined by Section
49.01, to a degree that impairs the person's ability to appraise the
nature of or resist engaging in any conduct, including performing
or providing labor or services; or
(C) withholding alcohol or a controlled
substance to a degree that impairs the ability of a trafficked
person with a chemical dependency, as defined by Section 462.001,
Health and Safety Code, to appraise the nature of or resist engaging
in any conduct, including performing or providing labor or
services.
SECTION 2. Section 20A.02(a-1), Penal Code, is repealed.
SECTION 3. 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 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 3521 was passed by the House on May
11, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 143, Nays 0, 2 present, not
voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 3521 was passed by the Senate on May
27, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor