89R1531 LHC-D     By: Turner, Rose, Garcia of Bexar H.B. No. 1347       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the prosecution of the offense of exploitation of a   child, elderly individual, or disabled individual.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 32.53(a), Penal Code, is amended by   adding Subdivisions (1-a), (1-b), and (3) and amending Subdivision   (2) to read as follows:                (1-a)  "Coercion" as defined by Section 1.07 includes:                      (A)  destroying, concealing, confiscating, or   withholding from a person, or threatening to destroy, conceal,   confiscate, or withhold from a person, the person's actual or   purported:                            (i)  government records; or                            (ii)  identifying information or documents;                      (B)  providing a controlled substance to a person   for the purpose of impairing the person's ability to appraise the   nature of or resist engaging in any conduct;                      (C)  physically restraining or confining a person   or threatening to physically restrain or confine a person;                      (D)  exposing or threatening to expose   information that would tend to subject a person to criminal or   immigration proceedings; or                      (E)  causing or threatening to cause financial   harm to a person or using financial control over a person.                (1-b)  "Deception" means:                      (A)  creating or confirming by words or conduct a   false impression of law or fact that is likely to affect the   judgment of another in the transaction, and that the actor does not   believe to be true; or                      (B)  promising performance that is likely to   affect the judgment of another in the transaction and that the actor   does not intend to perform or knows will not be performed.                (2)  "Exploitation" means the illegal or improper use   of a child, elderly individual, or disabled individual or of the   resources of a child, elderly individual, or disabled individual   through undue influence, harassment, duress, false representation,   false pretense, or other similar means [for monetary or personal   benefit, profit, or gain].                (3)  "Isolation" means preventing a person from having   contact with the person's friends or family, a welfare agency,   peace officers, health care providers, or other individuals or   entities without the knowledge or consent of the person.          SECTION 2.  Section 32.53(b), Penal Code, is amended to read   as follows:          (b)  A person commits an offense if the person, through   exploitation, deception, coercion, or isolation, knowingly   appropriates the resources of a child, elderly individual, or   disabled individual for the person's own monetary or personal   benefit or for the monetary or personal benefit of another person   other than the child, elderly individual, or disabled individual   [intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causes the exploitation   of a child, elderly individual, or disabled individual].          SECTION 3.  The change in law made by this Act applies 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 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.