88R2753 MM-D
By: Rosenthal H.B. No. 4480
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the prosecution and punishment of a criminal offense
relating to making false statements or reports of child abuse or
neglect.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 261.107(a), Family Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) A person commits an offense if, with the intent to
deceive, the person knowingly makes a report as provided in this
chapter that is false. An offense under this subsection is:
(1) a state jail felony; or
(2) [unless it is shown on the trial of the offense
that the person has previously been convicted under this section,
in which case the offense is] a felony of the third degree if it is
shown on the trial of the offense that the person:
(A) has previously been convicted under this
section; or
(B) committed the offense because of bias or
prejudice as described by Article 42.014, Code of Criminal
Procedure.
SECTION 2. Section 261.107(a), Family Code, as amended 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 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.