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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to prostitution and trafficking of persons and to certain |
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criminal and civil consequences of that conduct. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 17.46(b), Business & Commerce Code, as |
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amended by Chapters 1023 (H.B. 1265) and 1080 (H.B. 2573), Acts of |
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the 84th Legislature, Regular Session, 2015, is reenacted and |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) Except as provided in Subsection (d) of this section, |
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the term "false, misleading, or deceptive acts or practices" |
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includes, but is not limited to, the following acts: |
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(1) passing off goods or services as those of another; |
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(2) causing confusion or misunderstanding as to the |
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source, sponsorship, approval, or certification of goods or |
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services; |
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(3) causing confusion or misunderstanding as to |
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affiliation, connection, or association with, or certification by, |
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another; |
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(4) using deceptive representations or designations |
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of geographic origin in connection with goods or services; |
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(5) representing that goods or services have |
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sponsorship, approval, characteristics, ingredients, uses, |
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benefits, or quantities which they do not have or that a person has |
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a sponsorship, approval, status, affiliation, or connection which |
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the person does not; |
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(6) representing that goods are original or new if |
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they are deteriorated, reconditioned, reclaimed, used, or |
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secondhand; |
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(7) representing that goods or services are of a |
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particular standard, quality, or grade, or that goods are of a |
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particular style or model, if they are of another; |
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(8) disparaging the goods, services, or business of |
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another by false or misleading representation of facts; |
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(9) advertising goods or services with intent not to |
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sell them as advertised; |
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(10) advertising goods or services with intent not to |
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supply a reasonable expectable public demand, unless the |
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advertisements disclosed a limitation of quantity; |
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(11) making false or misleading statements of fact |
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concerning the reasons for, existence of, or amount of price |
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reductions; |
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(12) representing that an agreement confers or |
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involves rights, remedies, or obligations which it does not have or |
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involve, or which are prohibited by law; |
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(13) knowingly making false or misleading statements |
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of fact concerning the need for parts, replacement, or repair |
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service; |
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(14) misrepresenting the authority of a salesman, |
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representative or agent to negotiate the final terms of a consumer |
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transaction; |
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(15) basing a charge for the repair of any item in |
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whole or in part on a guaranty or warranty instead of on the value of |
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the actual repairs made or work to be performed on the item without |
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stating separately the charges for the work and the charge for the |
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warranty or guaranty, if any; |
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(16) disconnecting, turning back, or resetting the |
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odometer of any motor vehicle so as to reduce the number of miles |
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indicated on the odometer gauge; |
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(17) advertising of any sale by fraudulently |
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representing that a person is going out of business; |
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(18) advertising, selling, or distributing a card |
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which purports to be a prescription drug identification card issued |
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under Section 4151.152, Insurance Code, in accordance with rules |
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adopted by the commissioner of insurance, which offers a discount |
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on the purchase of health care goods or services from a third party |
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provider, and which is not evidence of insurance coverage, unless: |
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(A) the discount is authorized under an agreement |
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between the seller of the card and the provider of those goods and |
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services or the discount or card is offered to members of the |
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seller; |
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(B) the seller does not represent that the card |
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provides insurance coverage of any kind; and |
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(C) the discount is not false, misleading, or |
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deceptive; |
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(19) using or employing a chain referral sales plan in |
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connection with the sale or offer to sell of goods, merchandise, or |
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anything of value, which uses the sales technique, plan, |
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arrangement, or agreement in which the buyer or prospective buyer |
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is offered the opportunity to purchase merchandise or goods and in |
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connection with the purchase receives the seller's promise or |
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representation that the buyer shall have the right to receive |
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compensation or consideration in any form for furnishing to the |
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seller the names of other prospective buyers if receipt of the |
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compensation or consideration is contingent upon the occurrence of |
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an event subsequent to the time the buyer purchases the merchandise |
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or goods; |
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(20) representing that a guaranty or warranty confers |
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or involves rights or remedies which it does not have or involve, |
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provided, however, that nothing in this subchapter shall be |
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construed to expand the implied warranty of merchantability as |
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defined in Sections 2.314 through 2.318 and Sections 2A.212 through |
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2A.216 to involve obligations in excess of those which are |
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appropriate to the goods; |
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(21) promoting a pyramid promotional scheme, as |
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defined by Section 17.461; |
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(22) representing that work or services have been |
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performed on, or parts replaced in, goods when the work or services |
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were not performed or the parts replaced; |
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(23) filing suit founded upon a written contractual |
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obligation of and signed by the defendant to pay money arising out |
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of or based on a consumer transaction for goods, services, loans, or |
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extensions of credit intended primarily for personal, family, |
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household, or agricultural use in any county other than in the |
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county in which the defendant resides at the time of the |
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commencement of the action or in the county in which the defendant |
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in fact signed the contract; provided, however, that a violation of |
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this subsection shall not occur where it is shown by the person |
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filing such suit that the person neither knew or had reason to know |
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that the county in which such suit was filed was neither the county |
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in which the defendant resides at the commencement of the suit nor |
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the county in which the defendant in fact signed the contract; |
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(24) failing to disclose information concerning goods |
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or services which was known at the time of the transaction if such |
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failure to disclose such information was intended to induce the |
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consumer into a transaction into which the consumer would not have |
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entered had the information been disclosed; |
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(25) using the term "corporation," "incorporated," or |
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an abbreviation of either of those terms in the name of a business |
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entity that is not incorporated under the laws of this state or |
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another jurisdiction; |
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(26) selling, offering to sell, or illegally promoting |
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an annuity contract under Chapter 22, Acts of the 57th Legislature, |
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3rd Called Session, 1962 (Article 6228a-5, Vernon's Texas Civil |
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Statutes), with the intent that the annuity contract will be the |
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subject of a salary reduction agreement, as defined by that Act, if |
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the annuity contract is not an eligible qualified investment under |
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that Act or is not registered with the Teacher Retirement System of |
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Texas as required by Section 8A of that Act; |
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(27) taking advantage of a disaster declared by the |
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governor under Chapter 418, Government Code, by: |
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(A) selling or leasing fuel, food, medicine, or |
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another necessity at an exorbitant or excessive price; or |
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(B) demanding an exorbitant or excessive price in |
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connection with the sale or lease of fuel, food, medicine, or |
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another necessity; |
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(28) using the translation into a foreign language of |
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a title or other word, including "attorney," "lawyer," "licensed," |
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"notary," and "notary public," in any written or electronic |
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material, including an advertisement, a business card, a |
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letterhead, stationery, a website, or an online video, in reference |
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to a person who is not an attorney in order to imply that the person |
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is authorized to practice law in the United States; |
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(29) [(28)] delivering or distributing a solicitation |
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in connection with a good or service that: |
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(A) represents that the solicitation is sent on |
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behalf of a governmental entity when it is not; or |
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(B) resembles a governmental notice or form that |
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represents or implies that a criminal penalty may be imposed if the |
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recipient does not remit payment for the good or service; |
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(30) [(29)] delivering or distributing a solicitation |
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in connection with a good or service that resembles a check or other |
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negotiable instrument or invoice, unless the portion of the |
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solicitation that resembles a check or other negotiable instrument |
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or invoice includes the following notice, clearly and conspicuously |
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printed in at least 18-point type: |
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"SPECIMEN-NON-NEGOTIABLE"; |
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(31) [(30)] in the production, sale, distribution, or |
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promotion of a synthetic substance that produces and is intended to |
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produce an effect when consumed or ingested similar to, or in excess |
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of, the effect of a controlled substance or controlled substance |
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analogue, as those terms are defined by Section 481.002, Health and |
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Safety Code: |
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(A) making a deceptive representation or |
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designation about the synthetic substance; or |
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(B) causing confusion or misunderstanding as to |
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the effects the synthetic substance causes when consumed or |
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ingested; [or] |
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(32) [(31)] a licensed public insurance adjuster |
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directly or indirectly soliciting employment, as defined by Section |
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38.01, Penal Code, for an attorney, or a licensed public insurance |
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adjuster entering into a contract with an insured for the primary |
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purpose of referring the insured to an attorney without the intent |
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to actually perform the services customarily provided by a licensed |
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public insurance adjuster, provided that this subdivision may not |
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be construed to prohibit a licensed public insurance adjuster from |
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recommending a particular attorney to an insured; or |
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(33) owning, operating, maintaining, or advertising a |
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massage establishment, as defined by Section 455.001, Occupations |
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Code, that: |
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(A) is not appropriately licensed under Chapter |
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455, Occupations Code, or is not in compliance with the applicable |
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licensing and other requirements of that chapter; or |
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(B) is not in compliance with an applicable local |
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ordinance relating to the licensing or regulation of massage |
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establishments. |
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SECTION 2. Section 125.004, Civil Practice and Remedies |
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Code, is amended by adding Subsections (a-1), (a-2), and (e) to read |
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as follows: |
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(a-1) Proof in the form of a person's arrest or the |
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testimony of a law enforcement agent that an activity described by |
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Section 125.0015(a)(6) or (7) is committed at a place licensed as a |
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massage establishment under Chapter 455, Occupations Code, or |
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advertised as offering massage therapy or massage services is prima |
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facie evidence that the defendant knowingly tolerated the activity. |
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(a-2) Proof that an activity described by Section |
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125.0015(a)(18) is committed at a place maintained by the defendant |
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is prima facie evidence that the defendant: |
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(1) knowingly tolerated the activity; and |
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(2) did not make a reasonable attempt to abate the |
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activity. |
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(e) Evidence of a previous suit filed under this chapter |
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that resulted in a judgment against a landowner with respect to an |
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activity described by Section 125.0015 at the landowner's property |
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is admissible in a subsequent suit filed under this chapter to |
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demonstrate that the landowner: |
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(1) knowingly tolerated the activity; and |
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(2) did not make a reasonable attempt to abate the |
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activity. |
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SECTION 3. Section 411.042(b), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(b) The bureau of identification and records shall: |
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(1) procure and file for record photographs, pictures, |
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descriptions, fingerprints, measurements, and other pertinent |
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information of all persons arrested for or charged with a criminal |
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offense or convicted of a criminal offense, regardless of whether |
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the conviction is probated; |
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(2) collect information concerning the number and |
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nature of offenses reported or known to have been committed in the |
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state and the legal steps taken in connection with the offenses, and |
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other information useful in the study of crime and the |
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administration of justice, including information that enables the |
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bureau to create a statistical breakdown of: |
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(A) offenses in which family violence was |
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involved; |
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(B) offenses under Sections 22.011 and 22.021, |
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Penal Code; and |
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(C) offenses under Sections 20A.02, 43.02(a), |
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43.02(b), 43.03, and 43.05, Penal Code; |
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(3) make ballistic tests of bullets and firearms and |
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chemical analyses of bloodstains, cloth, materials, and other |
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substances for law enforcement officers of the state; |
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(4) cooperate with identification and crime records |
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bureaus in other states and the United States Department of |
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Justice; |
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(5) maintain a list of all previous background checks |
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for applicants for any position regulated under Chapter 1702, |
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Occupations Code, who have undergone a criminal history background |
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check under Section 411.119, if the check indicates a Class B |
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misdemeanor or equivalent offense or a greater offense; |
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(6) collect information concerning the number and |
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nature of protective orders and magistrate's orders of emergency |
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protection and all other pertinent information about all persons |
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subject to active orders, including pertinent information about |
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persons subject to conditions of bond imposed for the protection of |
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the victim in any family violence, sexual assault or abuse, |
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stalking, or trafficking case. Information in the law enforcement |
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information system relating to an active order shall include: |
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(A) the name, sex, race, date of birth, personal |
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descriptors, address, and county of residence of the person to whom |
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the order is directed; |
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(B) any known identifying number of the person to |
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whom the order is directed, including the person's social security |
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number or driver's license number; |
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(C) the name and county of residence of the |
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person protected by the order; |
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(D) the residence address and place of employment |
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or business of the person protected by the order, unless that |
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information is excluded from the order under Section 85.007, Family |
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Code, or Article 17.292(e), Code of Criminal Procedure; |
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(E) the child-care facility or school where a |
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child protected by the order normally resides or which the child |
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normally attends, unless that information is excluded from the |
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order under Section 85.007, Family Code, or Article 17.292(e), Code |
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of Criminal Procedure; |
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(F) the relationship or former relationship |
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between the person who is protected by the order and the person to |
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whom the order is directed; |
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(G) the conditions of bond imposed on the person |
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to whom the order is directed, if any, for the protection of a |
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victim in any family violence, sexual assault or abuse, stalking, |
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or trafficking case; |
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(H) any minimum distance the person subject to |
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the order is required to maintain from the protected places or |
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persons; and |
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(I) the date the order expires; |
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(7) grant access to criminal history record |
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information in the manner authorized under Subchapter F; |
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(8) collect and disseminate information regarding |
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offenders with mental impairments in compliance with Chapter 614, |
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Health and Safety Code; and |
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(9) record data and maintain a state database for a |
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computerized criminal history record system and computerized |
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juvenile justice information system that serves: |
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(A) as the record creation point for criminal |
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history record information and juvenile justice information |
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maintained by the state; and |
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(B) as the control terminal for the entry of |
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records, in accordance with federal law and regulations, federal |
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executive orders, and federal policy, into the federal database |
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maintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. |
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SECTION 4. Section 43.03, Penal Code, is amended to read as |
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follows: |
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Sec. 43.03. PROMOTION OF PROSTITUTION. (a) A person |
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commits an offense if, acting other than as a prostitute receiving |
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compensation for personally rendered prostitution services, the |
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actor [he or she] knowingly: |
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(1) receives money or other property pursuant to an |
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agreement to participate in the proceeds of prostitution; [or] |
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(2) solicits another to engage in sexual conduct with |
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another person for compensation; or |
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(3) provides a person or premises for prostitution |
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purposes. |
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(b) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor, |
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except that the offense is: |
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(1) a state jail felony if the actor has been |
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previously convicted of an offense under this section; or |
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(2) a felony of the second degree if the actor engages |
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in conduct described by Subsection (a) [(a)(1) or (2)] involving a |
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person younger than 18 years of age engaging in prostitution, |
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regardless of whether the actor knows the age of the person at the |
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time the actor commits the offense. |
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SECTION 5. Chapter 93, Property Code, is amended by adding |
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Section 93.013 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 93.013. CERTAIN UNLAWFUL USES OF PREMISES; TERMINATION |
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OF TENANT'S RIGHT OF POSSESSION. (a) Notwithstanding a provision |
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in a lease to the contrary, a tenant's right of possession |
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terminates and the landlord has a right to recover possession of the |
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leased premises if the tenant is using the premises or allowing the |
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premises to be used for the purposes of prostitution, promotion of |
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prostitution, aggravated promotion of prostitution, or compelling |
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prostitution, as prohibited by the Penal Code, or trafficking of |
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persons as described by Section 20A.02, Penal Code. |
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(b) A landlord who reasonably believes a tenant is using the |
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leased premises or allowing the leased premises to be used for a |
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purpose described by Subsection (a) may file a forcible detainer |
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suit under Chapter 24 seeking possession of the premises and unpaid |
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rent, including rent for any period of occupancy after the tenant's |
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right of possession terminates. |
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(c) Notwithstanding Section 24.005 or 91.001 or any other |
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law or a provision in the lease to the contrary, the landlord is not |
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required for purposes of a forcible detainer suit authorized by |
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this section: |
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(1) to give a notice of proposed eviction or a notice |
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of termination before giving notice to vacate; or |
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(2) to give the tenant more than three days' notice to |
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vacate before filing the suit. |
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(d) A pending suit brought by the attorney general or a |
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district, county, or city attorney under Chapter 125, Civil |
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Practice and Remedies Code, alleging that a common nuisance is |
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being maintained on the leased premises with respect to an activity |
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described by Subsection (a) is prima facie evidence that the |
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tenant's right of possession has terminated and the landlord has a |
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right to recover possession of the premises under Subsection (a). |
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(e) A final, nonappealable determination by a court under |
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Chapter 125, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, that a common |
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nuisance is being maintained on the leased premises with respect to |
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an activity described by Subsection (a) creates an irrebuttable |
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presumption that the tenant's right of possession has terminated |
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and the landlord has a right to recover possession of the premises |
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under Subsection (a). |
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SECTION 6. Section 17.46(b), Business & Commerce Code, as |
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amended by this Act, applies only to a cause of action that accrues |
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on or after the effective date of this Act. A cause of action that |
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accrued before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law |
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in effect immediately before the effective date of this Act, and |
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that law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 7. Section 43.03, Penal Code, as amended by this |
|
Act, applies only to an offense committed on or after the effective |
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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 |
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before the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense |
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occurred before that date. |
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SECTION 8. Section 93.013, Property Code, as added by this |
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Act, applies only to a lease entered into or renewed on or after the |
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effective date of this Act. A lease entered into or renewed before |
|
the effective date of this Act is governed by the law applicable to |
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the lease immediately before the effective date of this Act, and |
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that law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 9. To the extent of any conflict, this Act prevails |
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over another Act of the 85th Legislature, Regular Session, 2017, |
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relating to nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in enacted |
|
codes. |
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SECTION 10. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |