Bill Text: TX SB407 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Comm Sub

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Relating to the creation of the offense of electronic transmission of certain visual material depicting a minor and to certain educational programs concerning the prevention and awareness of that offense.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2011-06-17 - Effective on 9/1/11 [SB407 Detail]

Download: Texas-2011-SB407-Comm_Sub.html

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By: Watson, Hinojosa S.B. No. 407
(In the Senate - Filed January 25, 2011; February 2, 2011,
read first time and referred to Committee on Criminal Justice;
April 11, 2011, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 5, Nays 1; April 11, 2011,
sent to printer.)
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 407 By: Huffman

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of the offense of electronic transmission
of certain visual material depicting a minor and to certain
educational programs concerning the prevention and awareness of
that offense.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 37.09, Penal Code, is amended by adding
Subsection (c-1) to read as follows:
(c-1) It is a defense to prosecution under Subsection (a) or
(d)(1) that the record, document, or thing was visual material
prohibited under Section 43.261 that was destroyed as described by
Subsection (f)(3)(B) of that section.
SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 43, Penal Code, is amended
by adding Section 43.261 to read as follows:
Sec. 43.261. ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION OF CERTAIN VISUAL
MATERIAL DEPICTING MINOR. (a) In this section:
(1) "Dating relationship" has the meaning assigned by
Section 71.0021, Family Code.
(2) "Minor" means a person younger than 18 years of
age.
(3) "Produce" with respect to visual material includes
any conduct that directly contributes to the creation or
manufacture of the material.
(4) "Promote" has the meaning assigned by Section
43.25.
(5) "Sexual conduct" has the meaning assigned by
Section 43.25.
(6) "Visual material" has the meaning assigned by
Section 43.26.
(b) A person who is a minor commits an offense if the person
intentionally or knowingly:
(1) by electronic means promotes to another minor
visual material depicting a minor, including the actor, engaging in
sexual conduct, if the actor produced the visual material or knows
that another minor produced the visual material; or
(2) possesses in an electronic format visual material
depicting another minor engaging in sexual conduct, if the actor
produced the visual material or knows that another minor produced
the visual material.
(c) An offense under Subsection (b)(1) is a Class C
misdemeanor, except that the offense is:
(1) a Class B misdemeanor if it is shown on the trial
of the offense that the actor:
(A) promoted the visual material to another minor
other than a minor with whom the actor had a dating relationship at
the time of the offense;
(B) promoted the visual material with intent to
harass, annoy, alarm, abuse, torment, embarrass, or offend another;
or
(C) except as provided by Subdivision (2)(A), has
previously been convicted one time of any offense under this
section; or
(2) a Class A misdemeanor if it is shown on the trial
of the offense that the actor has previously been:
(A) convicted one or more times of an offense
punishable under Subdivision (1)(A) or (B); or
(B) convicted two or more times of any offense
under this section.
(d) An offense under Subsection (b)(2) is a Class C
misdemeanor, except that the offense is:
(1) a Class B misdemeanor if it is shown on the trial
of the offense that the actor has previously been convicted one time
of any offense under this section; or
(2) a Class A misdemeanor if it is shown on the trial
of the offense that the actor has previously been convicted two or
more times of any offense under this section.
(e) It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under this
section that the visual material:
(1) depicted only the actor or another minor:
(A) who is not more than two years older or
younger than the actor and with whom the actor had a dating
relationship at the time of the offense; or
(B) who was the spouse of the actor at the time of
the offense; and
(2) was promoted or received only to or from the actor
and the other minor.
(f) It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under
Subsection (b)(2) that the actor:
(1) did not produce, promote, or solicit the visual
material;
(2) possessed the visual material only after receiving
the material from another minor; and
(3) not later than 48 hours after receiving the visual
material from another minor:
(A) reported receipt of the material to a law
enforcement agency; or
(B) destroyed the material.
(g) If conduct that constitutes an offense under this
section also constitutes an offense under another law, the
defendant may be prosecuted under this section, the other law, or
both.
(h) Notwithstanding Section 51.13, Family Code, a finding
that a person has engaged in conduct in violation of this section is
considered a conviction for the purposes of Subsections (c) and
(d).
SECTION 3. Subsection (b), Section 51.03, Family Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(b) Conduct indicating a need for supervision is:
(1) subject to Subsection (f), conduct, other than a
traffic offense, that violates:
(A) the penal laws of this state of the grade of
misdemeanor that are punishable by fine only; or
(B) the penal ordinances of any political
subdivision of this state;
(2) the absence of a child on 10 or more days or parts
of days within a six-month period in the same school year or on
three or more days or parts of days within a four-week period from
school;
(3) the voluntary absence of a child from the child's
home without the consent of the child's parent or guardian for a
substantial length of time or without intent to return;
(4) conduct prohibited by city ordinance or by state
law involving the inhalation of the fumes or vapors of paint and
other protective coatings or glue and other adhesives and the
volatile chemicals itemized in Section 485.001, Health and Safety
Code;
(5) an act that violates a school district's
previously communicated written standards of student conduct for
which the child has been expelled under Section 37.007(c),
Education Code; [or]
(6) conduct that violates a reasonable and lawful
order of a court entered under Section 264.305; or
(7) conduct that violates Section 43.261, Penal Code,
and that is punishable as a Class B misdemeanor or any higher
category of offense.
SECTION 4. The heading to Chapter 6, Code of Criminal
Procedure, is amended to read as follows:
CHAPTER 6. PREVENTING OFFENSES BY THE ACT OF MAGISTRATES AND OTHER
OFFICERS; EDUCATION CONCERNING CONSEQUENCES OF CERTAIN OFFENSES
SECTION 5. Chapter 6, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
amended by adding Article 6.09 to read as follows:
Art. 6.09. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS CONCERNING CERTAIN
OFFENSES COMMITTED BY MINORS; MANDATORY COURT ATTENDANCE. (a) In
this article, "parent" means a natural or adoptive parent, managing
or possessory conservator, or legal guardian. The term does not
include a parent whose parental rights have been terminated.
(b) This article applies to a defendant who has not had the
disabilities of minority removed and has been charged with an
offense under Section 43.261, Penal Code.
(c) The judge of a county court:
(1) must take the defendant's plea in open court; and
(2) shall issue a summons to compel the defendant's
parent to be present during:
(A) the taking of the defendant's plea; and
(B) all other proceedings relating to the case.
(d) If a county court finds that a defendant has committed
an offense under Section 43.261, Penal Code, the court may enter an
order requiring the defendant to attend and successfully complete
an educational program described by Section 37.218, Education Code,
or another equivalent educational program.
(e) A court that enters an order under Subsection (d) shall
require the defendant or the defendant's parent to pay the cost of
attending an educational program under Subsection (d) if the court
determines that the defendant or the defendant's parent is
financially able to make payment.
SECTION 6. The heading to Article 38.45, Code of Criminal
Procedure, is amended to read as follows:
Art. 38.45. CERTAIN VISUAL MATERIAL DEPICTING SEXUAL
CONDUCT BY [EVIDENCE THAT CONSTITUTES] CHILD OR MINOR
[PORNOGRAPHY].
SECTION 7. Subsection (a), Article 38.45, Code of Criminal
Procedure, is amended to read as follows:
(a) During the course of a criminal hearing or proceeding,
the court may not make available or allow to be made available for
copying or dissemination to the public property or material that:
(1) constitutes child pornography, as described by
Section 43.26(a)(1), Penal Code; or
(2) the promotion or possession of which is prohibited
under Section 43.261, Penal Code.
SECTION 8. The heading to Article 39.15, Code of Criminal
Procedure, is amended to read as follows:
Art. 39.15. DISCOVERY OF CERTAIN VISUAL MATERIAL DEPICTING
SEXUAL CONDUCT BY [EVIDENCE THAT CONSTITUTES] CHILD OR MINOR
[PORNOGRAPHY].
SECTION 9. Subsection (a), Article 39.15, Code of Criminal
Procedure, is amended to read as follows:
(a) In the manner provided by this article, a court shall
allow discovery under Article 39.14 of property or material:
(1) that constitutes child pornography, as described
by Section 43.26(a)(1), Penal Code; or
(2) the promotion or possession of which is prohibited
under Section 43.261, Penal Code.
SECTION 10. Article 42.12, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
amended by adding Section 13H to read as follows:
Sec. 13H. DEFENDANTS PLACED ON COMMUNITY SUPERVISION FOR
ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION OF CERTAIN VISUAL MATERIAL. (a) In this
section, "parent" means a natural or adoptive parent, managing or
possessory conservator, or legal guardian. The term does not
include a parent whose parental rights have been terminated.
(b) If a judge grants community supervision to a defendant
who is convicted of or charged with an offense under Section 43.261,
Penal Code, the judge may require as a condition of community
supervision that the defendant attend and successfully complete an
educational program described by Section 37.218, Education Code, or
another equivalent educational program.
(c) The court shall require the defendant or the defendant's
parent to pay the cost of attending an educational program under
Subsection (b) if the court determines that the defendant or the
defendant's parent is financially able to make payment.
SECTION 11. Article 45.0215, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to
read as follows:
(a) This article applies to [If] a defendant who has not had
the disabilities of minority removed and has been:
(1) charged with an offense other than an offense
under Section 43.261, Penal Code, if the defendant is younger than
17 years of age; or
(2) charged with an offense under Section 43.261,
Penal Code, if the defendant is younger than 18 years of age.
(a-1) The [and has not had the disabilities of minority
removed, the] judge or justice:
(1) must take the defendant's plea in open court; and
(2) shall issue a summons to compel the defendant's
parent, guardian, or managing conservator to be present during:
(A) the taking of the defendant's plea; and
(B) all other proceedings relating to the case.
SECTION 12. The heading to Article 45.0216, Code of
Criminal Procedure, is amended to read as follows:
Art. 45.0216. EXPUNCTION OF CERTAIN CONVICTION RECORDS [OF
CHILDREN].
SECTION 13. Article 45.0216, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
amended by amending Subsections (b), (d), and (f) and adding
Subsection (f-1) to read as follows:
(b) A person may [convicted of not more than one offense
described by Section 8.07(a)(4) or (5), Penal Code, while the
person was a child may, on or after the person's 17th birthday,]
apply to the court in which the person [child] was convicted to have
the conviction expunged as provided by this article on or after the
person's 17th birthday if:
(1) the person was convicted of not more than one
offense described by Section 8.07(a)(4) or (5), Penal Code, while
the person was a child; or
(2) the person was convicted only once of an offense
under Section 43.261, Penal Code.
(d) The request must contain the person's statement that the
person was not convicted [while the person was a child] of any
additional offense or found to have engaged in conduct indicating a
need for supervision as described by Subsection (f)(1) or (2), as
applicable [Section 8.07(a)(4) or (5), Penal Code, other than the
offense the person seeks to have expunged].
(f) The [If the court finds that the person was not
convicted of any other offense described by Section 8.07(a)(4) or
(5), Penal Code, while the person was a child, the] court shall
order the conviction, together with all complaints, verdicts,
sentences, and prosecutorial and law enforcement records, and any
other documents relating to the offense, expunged from the person's
record if the court finds that:
(1) for a person applying for the expunction of a
conviction for an offense described by Section 8.07(a)(4) or (5),
Penal Code, the person was not convicted of any other offense
described by Section 8.07(a)(4) or (5), Penal Code, while the
person was a child; and
(2) for a person applying for the expunction of a
conviction for an offense described by Section 43.261, Penal Code,
the person was not found to have engaged in conduct indicating a
need for supervision described by Section 51.03(b)(7), Family Code,
while the person was a child.
(f-1) After entry of an [the] order under Subsection (f),
the person is released from all disabilities resulting from the
conviction and the conviction may not be shown or made known for any
purpose.
SECTION 14. Subchapter B, Chapter 45, Code of Criminal
Procedure, is amended by adding Article 45.061 to read as follows:
Art. 45.061. PROCEEDINGS CONCERNING ELECTRONIC
TRANSMISSION OF CERTAIN VISUAL MATERIAL DEPICTING MINOR. (a) In
this article, "parent" means a natural or adoptive parent, managing
or possessory conservator, or legal guardian. The term does not
include a parent whose parental rights have been terminated.
(b) If a justice or municipal court finds that a defendant
has committed an offense under Section 43.261, Penal Code, the
court may enter an order requiring the defendant to attend and
successfully complete an educational program described by Section
37.218, Education Code, or another equivalent educational program.
(c) A court that enters an order under Subsection (b) shall
require the defendant or the defendant's parent to pay the cost of
attending an educational program under Subsection (b) if the court
determines that the defendant or the defendant's parent is
financially able to make payment.
SECTION 15. Chapter 54, Family Code, is amended by adding
Section 54.0404 to read as follows:
Sec. 54.0404. ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION OF CERTAIN VISUAL
MATERIAL DEPICTING MINOR: EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. (a) If a child
is found to have engaged in conduct indicating a need for
supervision described by Section 51.03(b)(7), the juvenile court
may enter an order requiring the child to attend and successfully
complete an educational program described by Section 37.218,
Education Code, or another equivalent educational program.
(b) A juvenile court that enters an order under Subsection
(a) shall require the child or the child's parent or other person
responsible for the child's support to pay the cost of attending an
educational program under Subsection (a) if the court determines
that the child, parent, or other person is financially able to make
payment.
SECTION 16. Section 58.003, Family Code, is amended by
adding Subsections (c-3) and (c-4) and amending Subsection (d) to
read as follows:
(c-3) Notwithstanding Subsections (a) and (c) and subject
to Subsection (b), a juvenile court may order the sealing of records
concerning a child found to have engaged in conduct indicating a
need for supervision that violates Section 43.261, Penal Code, or
taken into custody to determine whether the child engaged in
conduct indicating a need for supervision that violates Section
43.261, Penal Code, if the child attends and successfully completes
an educational program described by Section 37.218, Education Code,
or another equivalent educational program. The court may:
(1) order the sealing of the records immediately and
without a hearing; or
(2) hold a hearing to determine whether to seal the
records.
(c-4) A prosecuting attorney or juvenile probation
department may maintain until a child's 17th birthday a separate
record of the child's name and date of birth and the date on which
the child successfully completed the educational program, if the
child's records are sealed under Subsection (c-3). The prosecuting
attorney or juvenile probation department, as applicable, shall
send the record to the court as soon as practicable after the
child's 17th birthday to be added to the child's other sealed
records.
(d) The court may grant the relief authorized in Subsection
(a), [or] (c-1), or (c-3) at any time after final discharge of the
person or after the last official action in the case if there was no
adjudication, subject, if applicable, to Subsection (e). If the
child is referred to the juvenile court for conduct constituting
any offense and at the adjudication hearing the child is found to be
not guilty of each offense alleged, the court shall immediately and
without any additional hearing order the sealing of all files and
records relating to the case.
SECTION 17. Subsection (a), Section 59.004, Family Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) For a child at sanction level one, the juvenile court or
probation department may:
(1) require counseling for the child regarding the
child's conduct;
(2) inform the child of the progressive sanctions that
may be imposed on the child if the child continues to engage in
delinquent conduct or conduct indicating a need for supervision;
(3) inform the child's parents or guardians of the
parents' or guardians' responsibility to impose reasonable
restrictions on the child to prevent the conduct from recurring;
(4) provide information or other assistance to the
child or the child's parents or guardians in securing needed social
services;
(5) require the child or the child's parents or
guardians to participate in a program for services under Section
264.302, if a program under Section 264.302 is available to the
child or the child's parents or guardians;
(6) refer the child to a community-based citizen
intervention program approved by the juvenile court; [and]
(7) release the child to the child's parents or
guardians; and
(8) require the child to attend and successfully
complete an educational program described by Section 37.218,
Education Code, or another equivalent educational program.
SECTION 18. Subchapter G, Chapter 37, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 37.218 to read as follows:
Sec. 37.218. PROGRAMS ON DANGERS OF STUDENTS SHARING VISUAL
MATERIAL DEPICTING MINOR ENGAGED IN SEXUAL CONDUCT. (a) In this
section:
(1) "Bullying" has the meaning assigned by Section
25.0342.
(2) "Cyberbullying" means the use of any electronic
communication device to engage in bullying or intimidation.
(3) "Harassment" has the meaning assigned by Section
37.001.
(4) "Sexual conduct" has the meaning assigned by
Section 43.25, Penal Code.
(b) The center, in consultation with the office of the
attorney general, shall develop programs for use by school
districts that address:
(1) the possible legal consequences, including
criminal penalties, of sharing visual material depicting a minor
engaged in sexual conduct;
(2) other possible consequences of sharing visual
material depicting a minor engaged in sexual conduct, including:
(A) negative effects on relationships;
(B) loss of educational and employment
opportunities; and
(C) possible removal, if applicable, from
certain school programs or extracurricular activities;
(3) the unique characteristics of the Internet and
other communications networks that could affect visual material
depicting a minor engaged in sexual conduct, including:
(A) search and replication capabilities; and
(B) a potentially worldwide audience;
(4) the prevention of, identification of, responses
to, and reporting of incidents of bullying; and
(5) the connection between bullying, cyberbullying,
harassment, and a minor sharing visual material depicting a minor
engaged in sexual conduct.
(c) Each school district shall annually provide or make
available information on the programs developed under Subsection
(b) to parents and students in a grade level the district considers
appropriate. Each district shall provide or make available the
information by any means the district considers appropriate.
SECTION 19. (a) Not later than January 1, 2012, the Texas
School Safety Center shall develop the program required under
Subsection (b), Section 37.218, Education Code, as added by this
Act.
(b) Subsection (c), Section 37.218, Education Code, as
added by this Act, applies beginning with the 2012-2013 school
year.
SECTION 20. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.
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