Texas 2023 - 88th Regular

Texas House Bill HB939 Compare Versions

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11 88R20578 LHC-D
22 By: Dutton, Thompson of Harris H.B. No. 939
33 Substitute the following for H.B. No. 939:
44 By: Moody C.S.H.B. No. 939
55
66
77 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
88 AN ACT
99 relating to the penalty for certain offenders for possession of a
1010 small amount of certain controlled substances.
1111 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1212 SECTION 1. Section 481.115, Health and Safety Code, is
1313 amended by amending Subsections (b) and (g) and adding Subsections
1414 (b-1) and (b-2) to read as follows:
1515 (b) Except as provided by Subsection (b-1), an [An] offense
1616 under Subsection (a) is a Class A misdemeanor with a minimum term of
1717 confinement of 180 days [state jail felony] if the controlled
1818 substance is listed in Penalty Group 1 and the amount of the
1919 controlled substance possessed is, by aggregate weight, including
2020 adulterants or dilutants, less than one gram.
2121 (b-1) An offense punishable under Subsection (b) is a state
2222 jail felony if the person has been previously convicted of an
2323 offense under this section or Section 481.1151, 481.116, 481.1161,
2424 481.117, 481.118, or 481.121.
2525 (b-2) An offense under Subsection (a) is a state jail felony
2626 if the controlled substance is listed in Penalty Group 1-B and the
2727 amount of the controlled substance possessed is, by aggregate
2828 weight, including adulterants or dilutants, less than one gram.
2929 (g) It is a defense to prosecution for an offense punishable
3030 under Subsection (b) or (b-2) that the actor:
3131 (1) was the first person to request emergency medical
3232 assistance in response to the possible overdose of another person
3333 and:
3434 (A) made the request for medical assistance
3535 during an ongoing medical emergency;
3636 (B) remained on the scene until the medical
3737 assistance arrived; and
3838 (C) cooperated with medical assistance and law
3939 enforcement personnel; or
4040 (2) was the victim of a possible overdose for which
4141 emergency medical assistance was requested, by the actor or by
4242 another person, during an ongoing medical emergency.
4343 SECTION 2. Section 481.1151, Health and Safety Code, is
4444 amended by amending Subsections (b) and (d) and adding Subsection
4545 (b-1) to read as follows:
4646 (b) An offense under this section is:
4747 (1) a Class A misdemeanor with a minimum term of
4848 confinement of 180 days [state jail felony] if the number of abuse
4949 units of the controlled substance is fewer than 20, except as
5050 provided by Subsection (b-1);
5151 (2) a felony of the third degree if the number of abuse
5252 units of the controlled substance is 20 or more but fewer than 80;
5353 (3) a felony of the second degree if the number of
5454 abuse units of the controlled substance is 80 or more but fewer than
5555 4,000;
5656 (4) a felony of the first degree if the number of abuse
5757 units of the controlled substance is 4,000 or more but fewer than
5858 8,000; and
5959 (5) punishable by imprisonment in the Texas Department
6060 of Criminal Justice for life or for a term of not more than 99 years
6161 or less than 15 years and a fine not to exceed $250,000, if the
6262 number of abuse units of the controlled substance is 8,000 or more.
6363 (b-1) An offense punishable under Subsection (b)(1) is a
6464 state jail felony if the person has been previously convicted of an
6565 offense under this section or Section 481.115, 481.116, 481.1161,
6666 481.117, 481.118, or 481.121.
6767 (d) The defense to prosecution provided by Subsection (c) is
6868 not available if:
6969 (1) at the time the request for emergency medical
7070 assistance was made:
7171 (A) a peace officer was in the process of
7272 arresting the actor or executing a search warrant describing the
7373 actor or the place from which the request for medical assistance was
7474 made; or
7575 (B) the actor is committing another offense,
7676 other than an offense punishable under Section 481.115(b) or (b-2),
7777 481.116(b), 481.1161(b)(1) or (2), 481.117(b), 481.118(b), or
7878 481.121(b)(1) or (2), or an offense under Section 481.119(b),
7979 481.125(a), 483.041(a), or 485.031(a);
8080 (2) the actor has been previously convicted of or
8181 placed on deferred adjudication community supervision for an
8282 offense under this chapter or Chapter 483 or 485;
8383 (3) the actor was acquitted in a previous proceeding
8484 in which the actor successfully established the defense under that
8585 subsection or Section 481.115(g), 481.116(f), 481.1161(c),
8686 481.117(f), 481.118(f), 481.119(c), 481.121(c), 481.125(g),
8787 483.041(e), or 485.031(c); or
8888 (4) at any time during the 18-month period preceding
8989 the date of the commission of the instant offense, the actor
9090 requested emergency medical assistance in response to the possible
9191 overdose of the actor or another person.
9292 SECTION 3. Section 481.116, Health and Safety Code, is
9393 amended by amending Subsections (b) and (g) and adding Subsection
9494 (b-1) to read as follows:
9595 (b) Except as provided by Subsection (b-1), an [An] offense
9696 under Subsection (a) is a Class A misdemeanor with a minimum term of
9797 confinement of 180 days [state jail felony] if the amount of the
9898 controlled substance possessed is, by aggregate weight, including
9999 adulterants or dilutants, less than one gram.
100100 (b-1) An offense punishable under Subsection (b) is a state
101101 jail felony if the person has been previously convicted of an
102102 offense under this section or Section 481.115, 481.1151, 481.1161,
103103 481.117, 481.118, or 481.121.
104104 (g) The defense to prosecution provided by Subsection (f) is
105105 not available if:
106106 (1) at the time the request for emergency medical
107107 assistance was made:
108108 (A) a peace officer was in the process of
109109 arresting the actor or executing a search warrant describing the
110110 actor or the place from which the request for medical assistance was
111111 made; or
112112 (B) the actor is committing another offense,
113113 other than an offense punishable under Section 481.115(b) or (b-2),
114114 481.1151(b)(1), 481.1161(b)(1) or (2), 481.117(b), 481.118(b), or
115115 481.121(b)(1) or (2), or an offense under Section 481.119(b),
116116 481.125(a), 483.041(a), or 485.031(a);
117117 (2) the actor has been previously convicted of or
118118 placed on deferred adjudication community supervision for an
119119 offense under this chapter or Chapter 483 or 485;
120120 (3) the actor was acquitted in a previous proceeding
121121 in which the actor successfully established the defense under that
122122 subsection or Section 481.115(g), 481.1151(c), 481.1161(c),
123123 481.117(f), 481.118(f), 481.119(c), 481.121(c), 481.125(g),
124124 483.041(e), or 485.031(c); or
125125 (4) at any time during the 18-month period preceding
126126 the date of the commission of the instant offense, the actor
127127 requested emergency medical assistance in response to the possible
128128 overdose of the actor or another person.
129129 SECTION 4. Section 481.1161(d), Health and Safety Code, is
130130 amended to read as follows:
131131 (d) The defense to prosecution provided by Subsection (c) is
132132 not available if:
133133 (1) at the time the request for emergency medical
134134 assistance was made:
135135 (A) a peace officer was in the process of
136136 arresting the actor or executing a search warrant describing the
137137 actor or the place from which the request for medical assistance was
138138 made; or
139139 (B) the actor is committing another offense,
140140 other than an offense punishable under Section 481.115(b) or (b-2),
141141 481.1151(b)(1), 481.116(b), 481.117(b), 481.118(b), or
142142 481.121(b)(1) or (2), or an offense under Section 481.119(b),
143143 481.125(a), 483.041(a), or 485.031(a);
144144 (2) the actor has been previously convicted of or
145145 placed on deferred adjudication community supervision for an
146146 offense under this chapter or Chapter 483 or 485;
147147 (3) the actor was acquitted in a previous proceeding
148148 in which the actor successfully established the defense under that
149149 subsection or Section 481.115(g), 481.1151(c), 481.116(f),
150150 481.117(f), 481.118(f), 481.119(c), 481.121(c), 481.125(g),
151151 483.041(e), or 485.031(c); or
152152 (4) at any time during the 18-month period preceding
153153 the date of the commission of the instant offense, the actor
154154 requested emergency medical assistance in response to
155155 the possible overdose of the actor or another person.
156156 SECTION 5. Section 481.117(g), Health and Safety Code, is
157157 amended to read as follows:
158158 (g) The defense to prosecution provided by Subsection (f) is
159159 not available if:
160160 (1) at the time the request for emergency medical
161161 assistance was made:
162162 (A) a peace officer was in the process of
163163 arresting the actor or executing a search warrant describing the
164164 actor or the place from which the request for medical assistance was
165165 made; or
166166 (B) the actor is committing another offense,
167167 other than an offense punishable under Section 481.115(b) or (b-2),
168168 481.1151(b)(1), 481.116(b), 481.1161(b)(1) or (2), 481.118(b), or
169169 481.121(b)(1) or (2), or an offense under Section 481.119(b),
170170 481.125(a), 483.041(a), or 485.031(a);
171171 (2) the actor has been previously convicted of or
172172 placed on deferred adjudication community supervision for an
173173 offense under this chapter or Chapter 483 or 485;
174174 (3) the actor was acquitted in a previous proceeding
175175 in which the actor successfully established the defense under that
176176 subsection or Section 481.115(g), 481.1151(c), 481.116(f),
177177 481.1161(c), 481.118(f), 481.119(c), 481.121(c), 481.125(g),
178178 483.041(e), or 485.031(c); or
179179 (4) at any time during the 18-month period preceding
180180 the date of the commission of the instant offense, the actor
181181 requested emergency medical assistance in response to the possible
182182 overdose of the actor or another person.
183183 SECTION 6. Section 481.118(g), Health and Safety Code, is
184184 amended to read as follows:
185185 (g) The defense to prosecution provided by Subsection (f) is
186186 not available if:
187187 (1) at the time the request for emergency medical
188188 assistance was made:
189189 (A) a peace officer was in the process of
190190 arresting the actor or executing a search warrant describing the
191191 actor or the place from which the request for medical assistance was
192192 made; or
193193 (B) the actor is committing another offense,
194194 other than an offense punishable under Section 481.115(b) or (b-2),
195195 481.1151(b)(1), 481.116(b), 481.1161(b)(1) or (2), 481.117(b), or
196196 481.121(b)(1) or (2), or an offense under Section 481.119(b),
197197 481.125(a), 483.041(a), or 485.031(a);
198198 (2) the actor has been previously convicted of or
199199 placed on deferred adjudication community supervision for an
200200 offense under this chapter or Chapter 483 or 485;
201201 (3) the actor was acquitted in a previous proceeding
202202 in which the actor successfully established the defense under that
203203 subsection or Section 481.115(g), 481.1151(c), 481.116(f),
204204 481.1161(c), 481.117(f), 481.119(c), 481.121(c), 481.125(g),
205205 483.041(e), or 485.031(c); or
206206 (4) at any time during the 18-month period preceding
207207 the date of the commission of the instant offense, the actor
208208 requested emergency medical assistance in response to the possible
209209 overdose of the actor or another person.
210210 SECTION 7. Section 481.119(d), Health and Safety Code, is
211211 amended to read as follows:
212212 (d) The defense to prosecution provided by Subsection (c) is
213213 not available if:
214214 (1) at the time the request for emergency medical
215215 assistance was made:
216216 (A) a peace officer was in the process of
217217 arresting the actor or executing a search warrant describing the
218218 actor or the place from which the request for medical assistance was
219219 made; or
220220 (B) the actor is committing another offense,
221221 other than an offense punishable under Section 481.115(b) or (b-2),
222222 481.1151(b)(1), 481.116(b), 481.1161(b)(1) or (2), 481.117(b),
223223 481.118(b), or 481.121(b)(1) or (2), or an offense under Section
224224 481.125(a), 483.041(a), or 485.031(a);
225225 (2) the actor has been previously convicted of or
226226 placed on deferred adjudication community supervision for an
227227 offense under this chapter or Chapter 483 or 485;
228228 (3) the actor was acquitted in a previous proceeding
229229 in which the actor successfully established the defense under that
230230 subsection or Section 481.115(g), 481.1151(c), 481.116(f),
231231 481.1161(c), 481.117(f), 481.118(f), 481.121(c), 481.125(g),
232232 483.041(e), or 485.031(c); or
233233 (4) at any time during the 18-month period preceding
234234 the date of the commission of the instant offense, the actor
235235 requested emergency medical assistance in response to the possible
236236 overdose of the actor or another person.
237237 SECTION 8. Section 481.121(d), Health and Safety Code, is
238238 amended to read as follows:
239239 (d) The defense to prosecution provided by Subsection (c) is
240240 not available if:
241241 (1) at the time the request for emergency medical
242242 assistance was made:
243243 (A) a peace officer was in the process of
244244 arresting the actor or executing a search warrant describing the
245245 actor or the place from which the request for medical assistance was
246246 made; or
247247 (B) the actor is committing another offense,
248248 other than an offense punishable under Section 481.115(b) or (b-2),
249249 481.1151(b)(1), 481.116(b), 481.1161(b)(1) or (2), 481.117(b), or
250250 481.118(b), or an offense under Section 481.119(b), 481.125(a),
251251 483.041(a), or 485.031(a);
252252 (2) the actor has been previously convicted of or
253253 placed on deferred adjudication community supervision for an
254254 offense under this chapter or Chapter 483 or 485;
255255 (3) the actor was acquitted in a previous proceeding
256256 in which the actor successfully established the defense under that
257257 subsection or Section 481.115(g), 481.1151(c), 481.116(f),
258258 481.1161(c), 481.117(f), 481.118(f), 481.119(c), 481.125(g),
259259 483.041(e), or 485.031(c); or
260260 (4) at any time during the 18-month period preceding
261261 the date of the commission of the instant offense, the actor
262262 requested emergency medical assistance in response to the possible
263263 overdose of the actor or another person.
264264 SECTION 9. Section 481.125(h), Health and Safety Code, is
265265 amended to read as follows:
266266 (h) The defense to prosecution provided by Subsection (g) is
267267 not available if:
268268 (1) at the time the request for emergency medical
269269 assistance was made:
270270 (A) a peace officer was in the process of
271271 arresting the actor or executing a search warrant describing the
272272 actor or the place from which the request for medical assistance was
273273 made; or
274274 (B) the actor is committing another offense,
275275 other than an offense punishable under Section 481.115(b) or (b-2),
276276 481.1151(b)(1), 481.116(b), 481.1161(b)(1) or (2), 481.117(b),
277277 481.118(b), or 481.121(b)(1) or (2), or an offense under Section
278278 481.119(b), 483.041(a), or 485.031(a);
279279 (2) the actor has been previously convicted of or
280280 placed on deferred adjudication community supervision for an
281281 offense under this chapter or Chapter 483 or 485;
282282 (3) the actor was acquitted in a previous proceeding
283283 in which the actor successfully established the defense under that
284284 subsection or Section 481.115(g), 481.1151(c), 481.116(f),
285285 481.1161(c), 481.117(f), 481.118(f), 481.119(c), 481.121(c),
286286 483.041(e), or 485.031(c); or
287287 (4) at any time during the 18-month period preceding
288288 the date of the commission of the instant offense, the actor
289289 requested emergency medical assistance in response to the possible
290290 overdose of the actor or another person.
291291 SECTION 10. Sections 481.134(d) and (e), Health and Safety
292292 Code, are amended to read as follows:
293293 (d) An offense otherwise punishable under Section
294294 481.112(b), 481.1121(b)(1), 481.113(b), 481.114(b), 481.115(b-1)
295295 or (b-2) [481.115(b)], 481.1151(b-1) [481.1151(b)(1)],
296296 481.116(b-1) [481.116(b)], 481.1161(b)(3), 481.120(b)(3), or
297297 481.121(b)(3) is a felony of the third degree if it is shown on the
298298 trial of the offense that the offense was committed:
299299 (1) in, on, or within 1,000 feet of any real property
300300 that is owned, rented, or leased to a school or school board, the
301301 premises of a public or private youth center, or a playground;
302302 (2) on a school bus; or
303303 (3) by any unauthorized person 18 years of age or
304304 older, in, on, or within 1,000 feet of premises owned, rented, or
305305 leased by a general residential operation operating as a
306306 residential treatment center.
307307 (e) An offense otherwise punishable under Section
308308 481.115(b), 481.1151(b)(1), 481.116(b), 481.117(b), 481.119(a),
309309 481.120(b)(2), or 481.121(b)(2) is a state jail felony if it is
310310 shown on the trial of the offense that the offense was committed:
311311 (1) in, on, or within 1,000 feet of any real property
312312 that is owned, rented, or leased to a school or school board, the
313313 premises of a public or private youth center, or a playground;
314314 (2) on a school bus; or
315315 (3) by any unauthorized person 18 years of age or
316316 older, in, on, or within 1,000 feet of premises owned, rented, or
317317 leased by a general residential operation operating as a
318318 residential treatment center.
319319 SECTION 11. Section 483.041(f), Health and Safety Code, is
320320 amended to read as follows:
321321 (f) The defense to prosecution provided by Subsection (e) is
322322 not available if:
323323 (1) at the time the request for emergency medical
324324 assistance was made:
325325 (A) a peace officer was in the process of
326326 arresting the actor or executing a search warrant describing the
327327 actor or the place from which the request for medical assistance was
328328 made; or
329329 (B) the actor is committing another offense,
330330 other than an offense punishable under Section 481.115(b) or (b-2),
331331 481.1151(b)(1), 481.116(b), 481.1161(b)(1) or (2), 481.117(b),
332332 481.118(b), or 481.121(b)(1) or (2), or an offense under Section
333333 481.119(b), 481.125(a), or 485.031(a);
334334 (2) the actor has been previously convicted of or
335335 placed on deferred adjudication community supervision for an
336336 offense under this chapter or Chapter 481 or 485;
337337 (3) the actor was acquitted in a previous proceeding
338338 in which the actor successfully established the defense under that
339339 subsection or Section 481.115(g), 481.1151(c), 481.116(f),
340340 481.1161(c), 481.117(f), 481.118(f), 481.119(c), 481.121(c),
341341 481.125(g), or 485.031(c); or
342342 (4) at any time during the 18-month period preceding
343343 the date of the commission of the instant offense, the actor
344344 requested emergency medical assistance in response to the possible
345345 overdose of the actor or another person.
346346 SECTION 12. Section 485.031(d), Health and Safety Code, is
347347 amended to read as follows:
348348 (d) The defense to prosecution provided by Subsection (c) is
349349 not available if:
350350 (1) at the time the request for emergency medical
351351 assistance was made:
352352 (A) a peace officer was in the process of
353353 arresting the actor or executing a search warrant describing the
354354 actor or the place from which the request for medical assistance was
355355 made; or
356356 (B) the actor is committing another offense,
357357 other than an offense punishable under Section 481.115(b) or (b-2),
358358 481.1151(b)(1), 481.116(b), 481.1161(b)(1) or (2), 481.117(b),
359359 481.118(b), or 481.121(b)(1) or (2), or an offense under Section
360360 481.119(b), 481.125(a), or 483.041(a);
361361 (2) the actor has been previously convicted of or
362362 placed on deferred adjudication community supervision for an
363363 offense under this chapter or Chapter 481 or 483;
364364 (3) the actor was acquitted in a previous proceeding
365365 in which the actor successfully established the defense under that
366366 subsection or Section 481.115(g), 481.1151(c), 481.116(f),
367367 481.1161(c), 481.117(f), 481.118(f), 481.119(c), 481.121(c),
368368 481.125(g), or 483.041(e); or
369369 (4) at any time during the 18-month period preceding
370370 the date of the commission of the instant offense, the actor
371371 requested emergency medical assistance in response to the possible
372372 overdose of the actor or another person.
373373 SECTION 13. Subchapter K, Chapter 42A, Code of Criminal
374374 Procedure, is amended by adding Article 42A.518 to read as follows:
375375 Art. 42A.518. COMMUNITY SUPERVISION FOR CERTAIN DRUG
376376 OFFENSES; EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM. A judge who grants community
377377 supervision to a person convicted of a Class A misdemeanor under
378378 Section 481.115(b), 481.1151(b)(1), 481.116(b), or 481.1161(b)(2),
379379 Health and Safety Code, may require, as a condition of community
380380 supervision, that the person successfully complete an educational
381381 program on substance abuse awareness approved by the Texas
382382 Department of Licensing and Regulation.
383383 SECTION 14. Articles 42A.551(a) and (c), Code of Criminal
384384 Procedure, are amended to read as follows:
385385 (a) Except as otherwise provided by Subsection (b) or (c),
386386 on conviction of a state jail felony under Section 481.115(b-1) or
387387 (b-2) [481.115(b)], 481.1151(b-1) [481.1151(b)(1)], 481.116(b-1)
388388 [481.116(b)], 481.1161(b)(3), 481.121(b)(3), or 481.129(g)(1),
389389 Health and Safety Code, that is punished under Section 12.35(a),
390390 Penal Code, the judge shall suspend the imposition of the sentence
391391 and place the defendant on community supervision.
392392 (c) Subsection (a) does not apply to a defendant who:
393393 (1) under Section 481.1151(b-1) [481.1151(b)(1)],
394394 Health and Safety Code, possessed more than five abuse units of the
395395 controlled substance;
396396 (2) under Section 481.1161(b)(3), Health and Safety
397397 Code, possessed more than one pound, by aggregate weight, including
398398 adulterants or dilutants, of the controlled substance; or
399399 (3) under Section 481.121(b)(3), Health and Safety
400400 Code, possessed more than one pound of marihuana.
401401 SECTION 15. The change in law made by this Act applies only
402402 to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act.
403403 An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is
404404 governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed,
405405 and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For
406406 purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the
407407 effective date of this Act if any element of the offense was
408408 committed before that date.
409409 SECTION 16. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.