84R12249 TSR-D
 
  By: Huffman S.B. No. 1700
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the regulation of crafted precious metal dealers;
  creating a criminal offense.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 1956.001(8), Occupations Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
               (8)  "Personal identification document" means:
                     (A)  a valid driver's license issued by a state in
  the United States;
                     (B)  a United States military identification
  card; [or]
                     (C)  a personal identification certificate issued
  by the department under Section 521.101, Transportation Code, or a
  corresponding card or certificate issued by another state;
                     (D)  a passport; or
                     (E)  documentation issued by the United States
  agency responsible for citizenship and immigration that authorizes
  the person to be in the United States.
         SECTION 2.  Section 1956.062, Occupations Code, is amended
  by amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (c-1) to read as
  follows:
         (c)  The dealer shall:
               (1)  record the identification [proposed seller's
  driver's license] number [or department personal identification
  certificate number on physical presentation] of the seller's
  personal identification document;
               (2)  visually verify the accuracy of the seller's
  personal identification document and make a copy of the document;
               (3)  obtain a digital photograph that accurately
  depicts each item of crafted precious metal purchased; and
               (4)  obtain a digital photograph that accurately
  depicts [license or personal identification certificate by] the
  seller.
         (c-1)  The copy of the seller's personal identification
  document and the photographs described by Subsections (c)(3) and
  (4) [record] must accompany the list.
         SECTION 3.  Section 1956.064(a), Occupations Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  A dealer may not melt, deface, alter, or dispose of
  crafted precious metal that is the subject of a report required by
  this subchapter before the 11th day after the date the report is
  filed unless:
               (1)  the peace officer to whom the report is submitted,
  for good cause, authorizes disposition of the metal; or
               (2)  [the dealer obtains the name, address, and
  description of the buyer and retains a record of that information;
  or
               [(3)]  the dealer is a pawnbroker and the disposition
  is the redemption of pledged property by the pledgor.
         SECTION 4.  Section 1956.066, Occupations Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         Sec. 1956.066.  PURCHASE FROM MINOR PROHIBITED. [(a)] A
  dealer may not purchase crafted precious metal from a person
  younger than 18 years of age [unless the seller delivers to the
  dealer before the purchase a written statement from the seller's
  parent or legal guardian consenting to the transaction].
         [(b)     The dealer shall retain the statement with the records
  required to be kept under this subchapter. The dealer may destroy
  the statement after the later of:
               [(1)  the date the item is sold; or
               [(2)     the first anniversary of the date the dealer
  purchased the item.]
         SECTION 5.  Section 1956.069, Occupations Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         Sec. 1956.069.  CRIMINAL PENALTY. (a)  A person commits an
  offense if the person:
               (1)  [fails to make or permit inspection of a report as
  required by Section 1956.062 or 1956.063;
               [(2)]  violates Section 1956.0612, 1956.062, 1956.063,
  [or] 1956.064, or 1956.065;
               (2)  [(3)     fails to obtain or retain a statement as
  required by Section 1956.066;
               [(4)]  fails to file a registration statement as
  required by Section 1956.067; or
               (3) [(5)]  purchases an object in violation of Section
  1956.066 or 1956.068.
         (b)  An offense under this section is a Class B misdemeanor,
  except that the offense is:
               (1)  a Class A misdemeanor if it is shown on the trial
  of the offense that the defendant has been previously convicted of
  an offense under this section; and
               (2)  a state jail felony if it is shown on the trial of
  the offense that the defendant has previously been convicted two or
  more times of an offense under this section.
         SECTION 6.  The changes in law made by this Act apply 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 7.  (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this
  section, this Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
         (b)  Section 1956.069, Occupations Code, as amended by this
  Act, takes effect December 1, 2015.