87R6644 JSC-D     By: Crockett H.B. No. 1609       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the criminal penalties for possession of marihuana.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 481.121(b), Health and Safety Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (b)  An offense under Subsection (a) is:                (1)  a Class C [B misdemeanor if the amount of marihuana   possessed is two ounces or less;                [(2) a Class A] misdemeanor if the amount of marihuana   possessed is four ounces or less [but more than two ounces];                (2) [(3)]  a state jail felony if the amount of   marihuana possessed is five pounds or less but more than four   ounces;                (3) [(4)]  a felony of the third degree if the amount of   marihuana possessed is 50 pounds or less but more than 5 pounds;                (4) [(5)]  a felony of the second degree if the amount   of marihuana possessed is 2,000 pounds or less but more than 50   pounds; and                (5) [(6)]  punishable by imprisonment in the Texas   Department of Criminal Justice for life or for a term of not more   than 99 years or less than 5 years, and a fine not to exceed $50,000,   if the amount of marihuana possessed is more than 2,000 pounds.          SECTION 2.  Article 14.06(d), Code of Criminal Procedure, is   amended to read as follows:          (d)  Subsection (c) applies only to a person charged with   committing an offense under:                (1)  [Section 481.121, Health and Safety Code, if the   offense is punishable under Subsection (b)(1) or (2) of that   section;                [(1-a)] Section 481.1161, Health and Safety Code, if   the offense is punishable under Subsection (b)(1) or (2) of that   section;                (2)  Section 28.03, Penal Code, if the offense is   punishable under Subsection (b)(2) of that section;                (3)  Section 28.08, Penal Code, if the offense is   punishable under Subsection (b)(2) or (3) of that section;                (4)  Section 31.03, Penal Code, if the offense is   punishable under Subsection (e)(2)(A) of that section;                (5)  Section 31.04, Penal Code, if the offense is   punishable under Subsection (e)(2) of that section;                (6)  Section 38.114, Penal Code, if the offense is   punishable as a Class B misdemeanor; or                (7)  Section 521.457, Transportation Code.          SECTION 3.  Articles 42A.551(a) and (c), Code of Criminal   Procedure, are amended to read as follows:          (a)  Except as otherwise provided by Subsection (b) or (c),   on conviction of a state jail felony under Section 481.115(b),   481.1151(b)(1), 481.116(b), 481.1161(b)(3), 481.121(b)(2)   [481.121(b)(3)], or 481.129(g)(1), Health and Safety Code, that is   punished under Section 12.35(a), Penal Code, the judge shall   suspend the imposition of the sentence and place the defendant on   community supervision.          (c)  Subsection (a) does not apply to a defendant who:                (1)  under Section 481.1151(b)(1), Health and Safety   Code, possessed more than five abuse units of the controlled   substance;                (2)  under Section 481.1161(b)(3), Health and Safety   Code, possessed more than one pound, by aggregate weight, including   adulterants or dilutants, of the controlled substance; or                (3)  under Section 481.121(b)(2) [481.121(b)(3)],   Health and Safety Code, possessed more than one pound of marihuana.          SECTION 4.  Section 411.0728(a), Government Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (a)  This section applies only to a person:                (1)  who is convicted of or placed on deferred   adjudication community supervision for an offense under:                      (A)  Section 481.120, Health and Safety Code, if   the offense is punishable under Subsection (b)(1);                      (B)  [Section 481.121, Health and Safety Code, if   the offense is punishable under Subsection (b)(1);                      [(C)] Section 31.03, Penal Code, if the offense is   punishable under Subsection (e)(1) or (2); or                      (C) [(D)]  Section 43.02, Penal Code; and                (2)  who, if requested by the applicable law   enforcement agency or prosecuting attorney to provide assistance in   the investigation or prosecution of an offense under Section   20A.02, 20A.03, or 43.05, Penal Code, or a federal offense   containing elements that are substantially similar to the elements   of an offense under any of those sections:                      (A)  provided assistance in the investigation or   prosecution of the offense; or                      (B)  did not provide assistance in the   investigation or prosecution of the offense due to the person's age   or a physical or mental disability resulting from being a victim of   an offense described by this subdivision.          SECTION 5.  Section 481.126(a), Health and Safety Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (a)  A person commits an offense if the person:                (1)  barters property or expends funds the person knows   are derived from the commission of an offense under this chapter   punishable by imprisonment in the Texas Department of Criminal   Justice for life;                (2)  barters property or expends funds the person knows   are derived from the commission of an offense under Section   481.121(a) that is punishable under Subsection (b)(4) of that   section [Section 481.121(b)(5)];                (3)  barters property or finances or invests funds the   person knows or believes are intended to further the commission of   an offense for which the punishment is described by Subdivision   (1); or                (4)  barters property or finances or invests funds the   person knows or believes are intended to further the commission of   an offense under Section 481.121(a) that is punishable under   Subsection (b)(4) of that section [Section 481.121(b)(5)].          SECTION 6.  Sections 481.134(c), (d), (e), and (f), Health   and Safety Code, are amended to read as follows:          (c)  The minimum term of confinement or imprisonment for an   offense otherwise punishable under Section 481.112(c), (d), (e), or   (f), 481.1121(b)(2), (3), or (4), 481.113(c), (d), or (e),   481.114(c), (d), or (e), 481.115(c)-(f), 481.1151(b)(2), (3), (4),   or (5), 481.116(c), (d), or (e), 481.1161(b)(4), (5), or (6),   481.117(c), (d), or (e), 481.118(c), (d), or (e), 481.120(b)(4),   (5), or (6), or 481.121(b)(3), (4) [481.121(b)(4)], or (5)[, or   (6)] is increased by five years and the maximum fine for the offense   is doubled if it is shown on the trial of the offense that the   offense was committed:                (1)  in, on, or within 1,000 feet of the premises of a   school, the premises of a public or private youth center, or a   playground; or                (2)  on a school bus.          (d)  An offense otherwise punishable under Section   481.112(b), 481.1121(b)(1), 481.113(b), 481.114(b), 481.115(b),   481.1151(b)(1), 481.116(b), 481.1161(b)(3), 481.120(b)(3), or   481.121(b)(2) [481.121(b)(3)] is a felony of the third degree if it   is shown on the trial of the offense that the offense was committed:                (1)  in, on, or within 1,000 feet of any real property   that is owned, rented, or leased to a school or school board, the   premises of a public or private youth center, or a playground; or                (2)  on a school bus.          (e)  An offense otherwise punishable under Section   481.117(b), 481.119(a), or 481.120(b)(2)[, or 481.121(b)(2)] is a   state jail felony if it is shown on the trial of the offense that the   offense was committed:                (1)  in, on, or within 1,000 feet of any real property   that is owned, rented, or leased to a school or school board, the   premises of a public or private youth center, or a playground; or                (2)  on a school bus.          (f)  An offense otherwise punishable under Section   481.118(b), 481.119(b), or 481.120(b)(1)[, or 481.121(b)(1)] is a   Class A misdemeanor if it is shown on the trial of the offense that   the offense was committed:                (1)  in, on, or within 1,000 feet of any real property   that is owned, rented, or leased to a school or school board, the   premises of a public or private youth center, or a playground; or                (2)  on a school bus.          SECTION 7.  Sections 481.121 and 481.134, Health and Safety   Code, as amended by this Act, apply to an offense committed under   Section 481.121 or an offense committed under Section 481.121 and   punishable under Section 481.134 before, on, or after September 1,   2021, except that a final conviction for an offense that exists on   September 1, 2021, is unaffected by this Act.          SECTION 8.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.