BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 2306 By: Villalobos Corrections Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Current law imposes parole limitations on individuals convicted of human trafficking offenses, especially those involving children and disabled individuals. However, the bill author has informed the committee that some offenders can still become eligible for parole under certain circumstances, creating concerns that those who have exploited society's most vulnerable could eventually be released before serving their full sentences. The bill author has further informed the committee that this poses a risk to public safety and undermines justice for victims. H.B. 2306 seeks to address this issue by explicitly removing parole eligibility for offenders convicted of trafficking crimes involving children and disabled individuals. CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill expressly does one or more of the following: creates a criminal offense, increases the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or changes the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS H.B. 2306 amends the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Government Code to make an inmate ineligible for release on parole if the inmate is serving a sentence for any of the following offenses: trafficking a child or disabled individual with the intent that the trafficked child or disabled individual engage in forced labor or services; receiving a benefit from participating in a venture that involves such trafficking activity, including by receiving labor or services the person knows are forced labor or services; trafficking a child or disabled individual and by any means causing the trafficked child or disabled individual to engage in or become the victim of certain sexual offenses; or receiving a benefit from participating in a venture that involves such trafficking activity causing the child or individual to engage in or become the victim of certain sexual offenses or engaging in sexual conduct with such a trafficked child or disabled individual. H.B. 2306 applies only to an offense committed on or after the bill's effective date. An offense committed before that date 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 these purposes, an offense was committed before the bill's effective date if any element of the offense occurred before that date. H.B. 2306 repeals the following provisions: Article 42.01991, Code of Criminal Procedure; and Section 508.145(c-1), Government Code. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
# BILL ANALYSIS
H.B. 2306
By: Villalobos
Corrections
Committee Report (Unamended)
H.B. 2306
By: Villalobos
Corrections
Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Current law imposes parole limitations on individuals convicted of human trafficking offenses, especially those involving children and disabled individuals. However, the bill author has informed the committee that some offenders can still become eligible for parole under certain circumstances, creating concerns that those who have exploited society's most vulnerable could eventually be released before serving their full sentences. The bill author has further informed the committee that this poses a risk to public safety and undermines justice for victims. H.B. 2306 seeks to address this issue by explicitly removing parole eligibility for offenders convicted of trafficking crimes involving children and disabled individuals.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill expressly does one or more of the following: creates a criminal offense, increases the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or changes the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS H.B. 2306 amends the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Government Code to make an inmate ineligible for release on parole if the inmate is serving a sentence for any of the following offenses: trafficking a child or disabled individual with the intent that the trafficked child or disabled individual engage in forced labor or services; receiving a benefit from participating in a venture that involves such trafficking activity, including by receiving labor or services the person knows are forced labor or services; trafficking a child or disabled individual and by any means causing the trafficked child or disabled individual to engage in or become the victim of certain sexual offenses; or receiving a benefit from participating in a venture that involves such trafficking activity causing the child or individual to engage in or become the victim of certain sexual offenses or engaging in sexual conduct with such a trafficked child or disabled individual. H.B. 2306 applies only to an offense committed on or after the bill's effective date. An offense committed before that date 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 these purposes, an offense was committed before the bill's effective date if any element of the offense occurred before that date. H.B. 2306 repeals the following provisions: Article 42.01991, Code of Criminal Procedure; and Section 508.145(c-1), Government Code.
EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2025.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Current law imposes parole limitations on individuals convicted of human trafficking offenses, especially those involving children and disabled individuals. However, the bill author has informed the committee that some offenders can still become eligible for parole under certain circumstances, creating concerns that those who have exploited society's most vulnerable could eventually be released before serving their full sentences. The bill author has further informed the committee that this poses a risk to public safety and undermines justice for victims. H.B. 2306 seeks to address this issue by explicitly removing parole eligibility for offenders convicted of trafficking crimes involving children and disabled individuals.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT
It is the committee's opinion that this bill expressly does one or more of the following: creates a criminal offense, increases the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or changes the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
H.B. 2306 amends the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Government Code to make an inmate ineligible for release on parole if the inmate is serving a sentence for any of the following offenses:
trafficking a child or disabled individual with the intent that the trafficked child or disabled individual engage in forced labor or services;
receiving a benefit from participating in a venture that involves such trafficking activity, including by receiving labor or services the person knows are forced labor or services;
trafficking a child or disabled individual and by any means causing the trafficked child or disabled individual to engage in or become the victim of certain sexual offenses; or
receiving a benefit from participating in a venture that involves such trafficking activity causing the child or individual to engage in or become the victim of certain sexual offenses or engaging in sexual conduct with such a trafficked child or disabled individual.
H.B. 2306 applies only to an offense committed on or after the bill's effective date. An offense committed before that date 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 these purposes, an offense was committed before the bill's effective date if any element of the offense occurred before that date.
H.B. 2306 repeals the following provisions:
Article 42.01991, Code of Criminal Procedure; and
Section 508.145(c-1), Government Code.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2025.