89R1312 MZM-D
By: Toth H.B. No. 1255
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to increasing the criminal penalty for certain offenses
committed by a professional who is required to report child abuse or
neglect and against a child under the care of that professional.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 12, Penal Code, is amended
by adding Section 12.503 to read as follows:
Sec. 12.503. PROFESSIONALS REQUIRED TO REPORT CHILD ABUSE
OR NEGLECT: PENALTY FOR CERTAIN OFFENSES COMMITTED AGAINST CHILDREN
UNDER THEIR CARE. (a) Subject to Subsection (c), the punishment for
an offense described by Subsection (b) is increased to the
punishment prescribed for the next higher category of offense if it
is shown on the trial of the offense that the offense was committed:
(1) by a professional, as defined by Section 261.101,
Family Code; and
(2) against a child who, at the time of the offense,
was under the professional's care, custody, or control.
(b) The increase in punishment authorized by this section
applies only to an offense under:
(1) Section 15.031;
(2) Section 15.032;
(3) Section 20A.02;
(4) Section 20A.03;
(5) Section 21.02;
(6) Section 21.11;
(7) Section 22.011;
(8) Section 22.012; or
(9) Section 22.021.
(c) If an offense listed under Subsection (b) is punishable
as a Class A misdemeanor, the minimum term of confinement for the
offense is increased to 180 days. If an offense listed under
Subsection (b) is punishable as a felony of the first degree, the
punishment for that offense may not be increased under this
section.
SECTION 2. 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 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.