88R2272 MCF-D
By: Menéndez S.B. No. 2537
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a criminal offense committed against a person because
of bias or prejudice on the basis of sexual orientation or gender
identity.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Article 42.014(a), Code of Criminal Procedure,
is amended to read as follows:
(a) In the trial of an offense under Title 5, Penal Code, or
Section 28.02, 28.03, 28.08, or 42.0601, Penal Code, the judge
shall make an affirmative finding of fact and enter the affirmative
finding in the judgment of the case if at the guilt or innocence
phase of the trial, the judge or the jury, whichever is the trier of
fact, determines beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant
intentionally selected the person against whom the offense was
committed, or intentionally selected the person's property that was
damaged or affected as a result of the offense, because of the
defendant's bias or prejudice against a group identified by race,
color, disability, religion, national origin or ancestry, age,
gender, [or] sexual orientation, or gender identity [preference] or
by status as a peace officer or judge.
SECTION 2. Article 42.014(c), Code of Criminal Procedure,
is repealed.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, 2023.