BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 2000 89R11911 CJD-D By: Ashby et al. (Nichols) Criminal Justice 5/2/2025 Engrossed AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT H.B. 2000 ("Audrii's Law") aims to mandate that an individual convicted of child grooming (Texas Penal Code, Secion 15.032 ) register as a sex offender. H.B. 2000 is named in memory of 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham, who was sexually assaulted and murdered in February 2024 by Don McDougal. McDougal had a long criminal record, including a 2007 conviction for enticing a child, for which he pled no contest and was sentenced to two years in prison. The conduct that resulted in those charges would now fall under the offense of child grooming, which was created by S.B. 1527 in the 88th Regular Session. However, child grooming was not added to the sex offender registry due to an unknown legislative oversight. Audrii's Law addresses this oversight by requiring anyone convicted of child grooming to register as a sex offender, thereby reinforcing protections for children across Texas. H.B. 2000 amends current law relating to the applicability of sex offender registration requirements to the offense of child grooming. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Authorizes this Act to be cited as Audrii's Law. SECTION 2. Amends Article 62.001(5), Code of Criminal Procedure, as follows: (5) Provides that "reportable conviction or adjudication" means a conviction or adjudication, including an adjudication of delinquent conduct or a deferred adjudication, that, regardless of the pendency of an appeal, is a conviction for or an adjudication for or based on: (A)-(G) makes no changes to these paragraphs; (H) a violation of the laws of another state, federal law, the laws of a foreign country, or the Uniform Code of Military Justice for or based on the violation of an offense containing elements that are substantially similar to the elements of an offense listed under certain paragraphs of this subdivision, including Paragraph (M), but not if the violation results in a deferred adjudication; (I)-(J) makes no changes to these paragraphs; (K)-(L) makes nonsubstantive changes to these paragraphs; or (M) a violation of Section 15.032 (Child Grooming), Penal Code. Makes nonsubstantive changes to this subdivision. SECTION 3. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.B. 2000
89R11911 CJD-D By: Ashby et al. (Nichols)
Criminal Justice
5/2/2025
Engrossed
Senate Research Center
H.B. 2000
89R11911 CJD-D
By: Ashby et al. (Nichols)
Criminal Justice
5/2/2025
Engrossed
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
H.B. 2000 ("Audrii's Law") aims to mandate that an individual convicted of child grooming (Texas Penal Code, Secion 15.032 ) register as a sex offender.
H.B. 2000 is named in memory of 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham, who was sexually assaulted and murdered in February 2024 by Don McDougal. McDougal had a long criminal record, including a 2007 conviction for enticing a child, for which he pled no contest and was sentenced to two years in prison. The conduct that resulted in those charges would now fall under the offense of child grooming, which was created by S.B. 1527 in the 88th Regular Session. However, child grooming was not added to the sex offender registry due to an unknown legislative oversight.
Audrii's Law addresses this oversight by requiring anyone convicted of child grooming to register as a sex offender, thereby reinforcing protections for children across Texas.
H.B. 2000 amends current law relating to the applicability of sex offender registration requirements to the offense of child grooming.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Authorizes this Act to be cited as Audrii's Law.
SECTION 2. Amends Article 62.001(5), Code of Criminal Procedure, as follows:
(5) Provides that "reportable conviction or adjudication" means a conviction or adjudication, including an adjudication of delinquent conduct or a deferred adjudication, that, regardless of the pendency of an appeal, is a conviction for or an adjudication for or based on:
(A)-(G) makes no changes to these paragraphs;
(H) a violation of the laws of another state, federal law, the laws of a foreign country, or the Uniform Code of Military Justice for or based on the violation of an offense containing elements that are substantially similar to the elements of an offense listed under certain paragraphs of this subdivision, including Paragraph (M), but not if the violation results in a deferred adjudication;
(I)-(J) makes no changes to these paragraphs;
(K)-(L) makes nonsubstantive changes to these paragraphs; or
(M) a violation of Section 15.032 (Child Grooming), Penal Code.
Makes nonsubstantive changes to this subdivision.
SECTION 3. Makes application of this Act prospective.
SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 2025.