Bill Text: TX HB2054 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to municipal and county regulation of sex parlors, including the imposition of civil and criminal penalties.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-05-13 - Placed on General State Calendar [HB2054 Detail]

Download: Texas-2021-HB2054-Introduced.html

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87R4666 DRS-D
By: Beckley H.B. No. 2054

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to municipal and county regulation of sex parlors,
including the imposition of civil and criminal penalties.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 243, Local Government Code, is amended
by designating Sections 243.001 through 243.011 as Subchapter A and
adding a subchapter heading to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER A. SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESSES
SECTION 2. Section 243.001, Local Government Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 243.001. PURPOSE; EFFECT ON OTHER REGULATORY
AUTHORITY. (a) The legislature finds that the unrestricted
operation of certain sexually oriented businesses may be
detrimental to the public health, safety, and welfare by
contributing to the decline of residential and business
neighborhoods and the growth of criminal activity. The purpose of
this subchapter [chapter] is to provide local governments a means
of remedying this problem.
(b) This subchapter [chapter] does not diminish the
authority of a local government to regulate sexually oriented
businesses with regard to any matters.
SECTION 3. Section 243.002, Local Government Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 243.002. DEFINITION. In this subchapter [chapter],
"sexually oriented business" means a sex parlor, nude studio,
modeling studio, love parlor, adult bookstore, adult movie theater,
adult video arcade, adult movie arcade, adult video store, adult
motel, or other commercial enterprise the primary business of which
is the offering of a service or the selling, renting, or exhibiting
of devices or any other items intended to provide sexual
stimulation or sexual gratification to the customer.
SECTION 4. Section 243.004, Local Government Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 243.004. EXEMPT BUSINESS. The following are exempt
from regulation under this subchapter [chapter]:
(1) a bookstore, movie theater, or video store, unless
that business is an adult bookstore, adult movie theater, or adult
video store under Section 243.002;
(2) a business operated by or employing a licensed
psychologist, licensed physical therapist, licensed athletic
trainer, licensed cosmetologist, or licensed barber engaged in
performing functions authorized under the license held; or
(3) a business operated by or employing a licensed
physician or licensed chiropractor engaged in practicing the
healing arts.
SECTION 5. Section 243.005, Local Government Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 243.005. BUSINESS LICENSED UNDER ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE
CODE: BUSINESS HAVING COIN-OPERATED MACHINES. (a) A business is
not exempt from regulation under this subchapter [chapter] because
it holds a license or permit under the Alcoholic Beverage Code
authorizing the sale or service of alcoholic beverages or because
it contains one or more coin-operated machines that are subject to
regulation or taxation, or both, under Chapter 8, Title 132,
Revised Statutes.
(b) A regulation adopted under this subchapter [chapter]
may not discriminate against a business on the basis of whether the
business holds a license or permit under the Alcoholic Beverage
Code or on the basis of whether it contains one or more
coin-operated machines that are subject to regulation or taxation,
or both, under Chapter 8, Title 132, Revised Statutes.
(c) This subchapter [chapter] does not affect the existing
preemption by the state of the regulation of alcoholic beverages
and the alcoholic beverage industry as provided by Section 1.06,
Alcoholic Beverage Code.
SECTION 6. Section 243.007(b), Local Government Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(b) The municipal or county regulations adopted under this
subchapter [chapter] may provide for the denial, suspension, or
revocation of a license or other permit by the municipality or
county.
SECTION 7. Section 243.008, Local Government Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 243.008. INSPECTION. A municipality or county may
inspect a sexually oriented business to determine compliance with
this subchapter [chapter] and regulations adopted under this
subchapter [chapter] by the municipality or county.
SECTION 8. Section 243.009, Local Government Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 243.009. FEES. A municipality or county may impose
fees on applicants for a license or other permit issued under this
subchapter [chapter] or for the renewal of the license or other
permit. The fees must be based on the cost of processing the
applications and investigating the applicants.
SECTION 9. Section 243.010, Local Government Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 243.010. ENFORCEMENT. (a) A municipality or county
may sue in the district court for an injunction to prohibit the
violation of a regulation adopted under this subchapter [chapter].
(b) A person commits an offense if the person violates a
municipal or county regulation adopted under this subchapter
[chapter]. An offense under this subsection is a Class A
misdemeanor.
SECTION 10. Section 243.011, Local Government Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 243.011. EFFECT ON OTHER LAWS. This subchapter
[chapter] does not legalize anything prohibited under the Penal
Code or other state law.
SECTION 11. Subchapter D, Chapter 234, Local Government
Code, is transferred to Chapter 243, Local Government Code,
redesignated as Subchapter B, Chapter 243, Local Government Code,
and amended to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER B [D]. SEX [MASSAGE] PARLORS
Sec. 243.051 [234.101]. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "Nude" and "sexual contact" have the meanings
assigned by Section 455.202, Occupations Code.
(2) "Sex parlor" ["Massage parlor"] means a business
establishment that purports to provide [massage] services
involving physical contact with a customer and that allows:
(A) [a nude person to provide massage services to
a customer;
[(B)] a person to engage in sexual contact for
compensation; or
(B) [(C)] a person to provide [massage] services
involving physical contact with a customer in a private or
semiprivate location while nude or wearing [in] clothing intended
to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person.
[(2) "Nude" and "sexual contact" have the meanings
assigned by Section 455.202, Occupations Code.]
Sec. 243.052 [234.102]. AUTHORITY TO REGULATE. To promote
public health, safety, and welfare, the governing body of a
municipality by ordinance or the commissioners court of a county by
order may prohibit or otherwise regulate sex [massage] parlors
[located in the unincorporated area of the county].
Sec. 243.053 [234.103]. INJUNCTION. If a sex [massage]
parlor has previously violated a prohibition or other regulation
adopted under this subchapter, a district or county attorney may
bring suit to enjoin the operation of a sex [massage] parlor in
violation or threatened violation of a prohibition or other
regulation adopted under this subchapter.
Sec. 243.054 [234.104]. CIVIL PENALTY. (a) A person who
violates a prohibition or regulation adopted by a municipality or
[the] county under this subchapter is liable to the municipality or
county, as applicable, for a civil penalty of not more than $1,000
for each violation. Each day a violation continues is considered a
separate violation for purposes of assessing the civil penalty.
(b) A municipality or county may bring suit in a district
court to recover a civil penalty authorized by Subsection (a).
Sec. 243.055 [234.105]. CRIMINAL PENALTY. (a) A person
commits an offense if the person intentionally or knowingly
operates a sex [massage] parlor in violation of a prohibition or
regulation adopted under this subchapter [by the commissioners
court].
(b) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.
Sec. 243.056 [234.106]. CUMULATIVE EFFECT. Authority
under this subchapter is cumulative of other authority that a
county or municipality has to regulate sex [massage] parlors and
does not limit that other authority.
Sec. 243.057 [234.107]. EFFECT ON OTHER LAWS. (a) This
subchapter does not legalize anything prohibited under the Penal
Code or other state law.
(b) A person who is subject to prosecution under this
section and any other law may be prosecuted under either or both
laws.
SECTION 12. Section 109.57(d), Alcoholic Beverage Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(d) This section does not affect the authority of a
governmental entity to regulate, in a manner as otherwise permitted
by law, the location of:
(1) a sex [massage] parlor, nude modeling studio, or
other sexually oriented business;
(2) an establishment that derives 75 percent or more
of the establishment's gross revenue from the on-premise sale of
alcoholic beverages; or
(3) an establishment that:
(A) derives 50 percent or more of the
establishment's gross revenue from the on-premise sale of alcoholic
beverages; and
(B) is located in a municipality or county, any
portion of which is located not more than 50 miles from an
international border.
SECTION 13. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.