By: Davis, Garcia H.B. No. 2187         (Senate Sponsor - Menéndez)          (In the Senate - Received from the House May 10, 2023;   May 11, 2023, read first time and referred to Committee on Criminal   Justice; May 19, 2023, reported favorably by the following vote:     Yeas 7, Nays 0; May 19, 2023, sent to printer.)Click here to see the committee vote     A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT     relating to the criminal offense of abandoning or endangering a   child, elderly individual, or disabled individual.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 22.041, Penal Code, is amended to read as   follows:          Sec. 22.041.  ABANDONING OR ENDANGERING A CHILD, ELDERLY   INDIVIDUAL, OR DISABLED INDIVIDUAL. (a) In this section:                (1)  "Abandon"[, "abandon"] means to leave [a child] in   any place without providing reasonable and necessary care a [for   the] child, elderly individual, or disabled individual under   circumstances under which no reasonable, similarly situated person   [adult] would leave a child or individual of that age and ability.                (2)  "Child," "elderly individual," and "disabled   individual" have the meanings assigned by Section 22.04.          (b)  A person commits an offense if the person, having   custody, care, or control of a child, elderly individual, or   disabled individual [younger than 15 years], [he] intentionally   abandons the child or individual in any place under circumstances   that expose the child or individual to an unreasonable risk of harm.          (c)  A person commits an offense if the person [he]   intentionally, knowingly, recklessly, or with criminal negligence,   by act or omission, engages in conduct that places a child, elderly   individual, or disabled individual [younger than 15 years] in   imminent danger of death, bodily injury, or physical or mental   impairment.          (c-1)  For purposes of Subsection (c), it is presumed that a   person engaged in conduct that places a child, elderly individual,   or disabled individual in imminent danger of death, bodily injury,   or physical or mental impairment if:                (1)  the person manufactured, possessed, or in any way   introduced into the body of any person the controlled substance   methamphetamine in the presence of the child, elderly individual,   or disabled individual;                (2)  the person's conduct related to the proximity or   accessibility of the controlled substance methamphetamine to the   child, elderly individual, or disabled individual and an analysis   of a specimen of the child's or individual's blood, urine, or other   bodily substance indicates the presence of methamphetamine in the   body of the child or individual [child's body]; or                (3)  the person injected, ingested, inhaled, or   otherwise introduced a controlled substance listed in Penalty Group   1, Section 481.102, Health and Safety Code, or Penalty Group 1-B,   Section 481.1022, Health and Safety Code, into the human body when   the person was not in lawful possession of the substance as defined   by Section 481.002(24) of that code.          (d)  Except as provided by Subsection (e), an offense under   Subsection (b) is:                (1)  a state jail felony if the actor abandoned the   child, elderly individual, or disabled individual with intent to   return for the child or individual; or                (2)  a felony of the third degree if the actor abandoned   the child, elderly individual, or disabled individual without   intent to return for the child or individual.          (e)  An offense under Subsection (b) is a felony of the   second degree if the actor abandons the child, elderly individual,   or disabled individual under circumstances that a reasonable person   would believe would place the child or individual in imminent   danger of death, bodily injury, or physical or mental impairment.          (f)  An offense under Subsection (c) is a state jail felony.          (g)  It is a defense to prosecution under Subsection (c) that   the act or omission enables the child, elderly individual, or   disabled individual to practice for or participate in an organized   athletic event and that appropriate safety equipment and procedures   are employed in the event.          (h)  It is an exception to the application of this section   for abandoning or endangering a child that the actor voluntarily   delivered the child to a designated emergency infant care provider   under Section 262.302, Family Code.          SECTION 2.  Article 12.01, Code of Criminal Procedure, is   amended to read as follows:          Art. 12.01.  FELONIES. Except as provided in Article 12.03,   felony indictments may be presented within these limits, and not   afterward:                (1)  no limitation:                      (A)  murder and manslaughter;                      (B)  sexual assault under Section 22.011(a)(2),   Penal Code, or aggravated sexual assault under Section   22.021(a)(1)(B), Penal Code;                      (C)  sexual assault, if:                            (i)  during the investigation of the offense   biological matter is collected and the matter:                                  (a)  has not yet been subjected to   forensic DNA testing; or                                  (b)  has been subjected to forensic DNA   testing and the testing results show that the matter does not match   the victim or any other person whose identity is readily   ascertained; or                            (ii)  probable cause exists to believe that   the defendant has committed the same or a similar sex offense   against five or more victims;                      (D)  continuous sexual abuse of young child or   disabled individual under Section 21.02, Penal Code;                      (E)  indecency with a child under Section 21.11,   Penal Code;                      (F)  an offense involving leaving the scene of an   accident under Section 550.021, Transportation Code, if the   accident resulted in the death of a person;                      (G)  trafficking of persons under Section   20A.02(a)(7) or (8), Penal Code;                      (H)  continuous trafficking of persons under   Section 20A.03, Penal Code; or                      (I)  compelling prostitution under Section   43.05(a)(2), Penal Code;                (2)  ten years from the date of the commission of the   offense:                      (A)  theft of any estate, real, personal or mixed,   by an executor, administrator, guardian or trustee, with intent to   defraud any creditor, heir, legatee, ward, distributee,   beneficiary or settlor of a trust interested in such estate;                      (B)  theft by a public servant of government   property over which the public servant exercises control in the   public servant's official capacity;                      (C)  forgery or the uttering, using, or passing of   forged instruments;                      (D)  injury to an elderly or disabled individual   punishable as a felony of the first degree under Section 22.04,   Penal Code;                      (E)  sexual assault, except as provided by   Subdivision (1) or (7);                      (F)  arson;                      (G)  trafficking of persons under Section   20A.02(a)(1), (2), (3), or (4), Penal Code; or                      (H)  compelling prostitution under Section   43.05(a)(1), Penal Code;                (3)  seven years from the date of the commission of the   offense:                      (A)  misapplication of fiduciary property or   property of a financial institution;                      (B)  fraudulent securing of document execution;                      (C)  a felony violation under Chapter 162, Tax   Code;                      (D)  false statement to obtain property or credit   under Section 32.32, Penal Code;                      (E)  money laundering;                      (F)  credit card or debit card abuse under Section   32.31, Penal Code;                      (G)  fraudulent use or possession of identifying   information under Section 32.51, Penal Code;                      (H)  exploitation of a child, elderly individual,   or disabled individual under Section 32.53, Penal Code;                      (I)  health care fraud under Section 35A.02, Penal   Code; or                      (J)  bigamy under Section 25.01, Penal Code,   except as provided by Subdivision (6);                (4)  five years from the date of the commission of the   offense:                      (A)  theft or robbery;                      (B)  except as provided by Subdivision (5),   kidnapping or burglary;                      (C)  injury to an elderly or disabled individual   that is not punishable as a felony of the first degree under Section   22.04, Penal Code;                      (D)  abandoning or endangering a child, elderly   individual, or disabled individual; or                      (E)  insurance fraud;                (5)  if the investigation of the offense shows that the   victim is younger than 17 years of age at the time the offense is   committed, 20 years from the 18th birthday of the victim of one of   the following offenses:                      (A)  sexual performance by a child under Section   43.25, Penal Code;                      (B)  aggravated kidnapping under Section   20.04(a)(4), Penal Code, if the defendant committed the offense   with the intent to violate or abuse the victim sexually; or                      (C)  burglary under Section 30.02, Penal Code, if   the offense is punishable under Subsection (d) of that section and   the defendant committed the offense with the intent to commit an   offense described by Subdivision (1)(B) or (D) of this article or   Paragraph (B) of this subdivision;                (6)  ten years from the 18th birthday of the victim of   the offense:                      (A)  trafficking of persons under Section   20A.02(a)(5) or (6), Penal Code;                      (B)  injury to a child under Section 22.04, Penal   Code; or                      (C)  bigamy under Section 25.01, Penal Code, if   the investigation of the offense shows that the person, other than   the legal spouse of the defendant, whom the defendant marries or   purports to marry or with whom the defendant lives under the   appearance of being married is younger than 18 years of age at the   time the offense is committed;                (7)  two years from the date the offense was   discovered: sexual assault punishable as a state jail felony under   Section 22.011(f)(2), Penal Code; or                (8)  three years from the date of the commission of the   offense:  all other felonies.          SECTION 3.  Section 201.062(a), Estates Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (a)  A probate court may enter an order declaring that the   parent of a child under 18 years of age may not inherit from or   through the child under the laws of descent and distribution if the   court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the parent has:                (1)  voluntarily abandoned and failed to support the   child in accordance with the parent's obligation or ability for at   least three years before the date of the child's death, and did not   resume support for the child before that date;                (2)  voluntarily and with knowledge of the pregnancy:                      (A)  abandoned the child's mother beginning at a   time during her pregnancy with the child and continuing through the   birth;                      (B)  failed to provide adequate support or medical   care for the mother during the period of abandonment before the   child's birth; and                      (C)  remained apart from and failed to support the   child since birth; or                (3)  been convicted or has been placed on community   supervision, including deferred adjudication community   supervision, for being criminally responsible for the death or   serious injury of a child under the following sections of the Penal   Code or adjudicated under Title 3, Family Code, for conduct that   caused the death or serious injury of a child and that would   constitute a violation of one of the following sections of the Penal   Code:                      (A)  Section 19.02 (murder);                      (B)  Section 19.03 (capital murder);                      (C)  Section 19.04 (manslaughter);                      (D)  Section 21.11 (indecency with a child);                      (E)  Section 22.01 (assault);                      (F)  Section 22.011 (sexual assault);                      (G)  Section 22.02 (aggravated assault);                      (H)  Section 22.021 (aggravated sexual assault);                      (I)  Section 22.04 (injury to a child, elderly   individual, or disabled individual);                      (J)  Section 22.041 (abandoning or endangering a   child, elderly individual, or disabled individual);                      (K)  Section 25.02 (prohibited sexual conduct);                      (L)  Section 43.25 (sexual performance by a   child); or                      (M)  Section 43.26 (possession or promotion of   child pornography).          SECTION 4.  Section 1104.353(b), Estates Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (b)  It is presumed to be not in the best interests of a ward   or incapacitated person to appoint as guardian of the ward or   incapacitated person a person who has been finally convicted of:                (1)  any sexual offense, including sexual assault,   aggravated sexual assault, and prohibited sexual conduct;                (2)  aggravated assault;                (3)  injury to a child, elderly individual, or disabled   individual;                (4)  abandoning or endangering a child, elderly   individual, or disabled individual;                (5)  terroristic threat; or                (6)  continuous violence against the family of the ward   or incapacitated person.          SECTION 5.  Section 161.001(b), Family Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (b)  The court may order termination of the parent-child   relationship if the court finds by clear and convincing evidence:                (1)  that the parent has:                      (A)  voluntarily left the child alone or in the   possession of another not the parent and expressed an intent not to   return;                      (B)  voluntarily left the child alone or in the   possession of another not the parent without expressing an intent   to return, without providing for the adequate support of the child,   and remained away for a period of at least three months;                      (C)  voluntarily left the child alone or in the   possession of another without providing adequate support of the   child and remained away for a period of at least six months;                      (D)  knowingly placed or knowingly allowed the   child to remain in conditions or surroundings which endanger the   physical or emotional well-being of the child;                      (E)  engaged in conduct or knowingly placed the   child with persons who engaged in conduct which endangers the   physical or emotional well-being of the child;                      (F)  failed to support the child in accordance   with the parent's ability during a period of one year ending within   six months of the date of the filing of the petition;                      (G)  abandoned the child without identifying the   child or furnishing means of identification, and the child's   identity cannot be ascertained by the exercise of reasonable   diligence;                      (H)  voluntarily, and with knowledge of the   pregnancy, abandoned the mother of the child beginning at a time   during her pregnancy with the child and continuing through the   birth, failed to provide adequate support or medical care for the   mother during the period of abandonment before the birth of the   child, and remained apart from the child or failed to support the   child since the birth;                      (I)  contumaciously refused to submit to a   reasonable and lawful order of a court under Subchapter D, Chapter   261;                      (J)  been the major cause of:                            (i)  the failure of the child to be enrolled   in school as required by the Education Code; or                            (ii)  the child's absence from the child's   home without the consent of the parents or guardian for a   substantial length of time or without the intent to return;                      (K)  executed before or after the suit is filed an   unrevoked or irrevocable affidavit of relinquishment of parental   rights as provided by this chapter;                      (L)  been convicted or has been placed on   community supervision, including deferred adjudication community   supervision, for being criminally responsible for the death or   serious injury of a child under the following sections of the Penal   Code, or under a law of another jurisdiction that contains elements   that are substantially similar to the elements of an offense under   one of the following Penal Code sections, or adjudicated under   Title 3 for conduct that caused the death or serious injury of a   child and that would constitute a violation of one of the following   Penal Code sections:                            (i)  Section 19.02 (murder);                            (ii)  Section 19.03 (capital murder);                            (iii)  Section 19.04 (manslaughter);                            (iv)  Section 21.11 (indecency with a   child);                            (v)  Section 22.01 (assault);                            (vi)  Section 22.011 (sexual assault);                            (vii)  Section 22.02 (aggravated assault);                            (viii)  Section 22.021 (aggravated sexual   assault);                            (ix)  Section 22.04 (injury to a child,   elderly individual, or disabled individual);                            (x)  Section 22.041 (abandoning or   endangering a child, elderly individual, or disabled individual);                            (xi)  Section 25.02 (prohibited sexual   conduct);                            (xii)  Section 43.25 (sexual performance by   a child);                            (xiii)  Section 43.26 (possession or   promotion of child pornography);                            (xiv)  Section 21.02 (continuous sexual   abuse of young child or disabled individual);                            (xv)  Section 20A.02(a)(7) or (8)   (trafficking of persons); and                            (xvi)  Section 43.05(a)(2) (compelling   prostitution);                      (M)  had his or her parent-child relationship   terminated with respect to another child based on a finding that the   parent's conduct was in violation of Paragraph (D) or (E) or   substantially equivalent provisions of the law of another state;                      (N)  constructively abandoned the child who has   been in the permanent or temporary managing conservatorship of the   Department of Family and Protective Services for not less than six   months, and:                            (i)  the department has made reasonable   efforts to return the child to the parent;                            (ii)  the parent has not regularly visited   or maintained significant contact with the child; and                            (iii)  the parent has demonstrated an   inability to provide the child with a safe environment;                      (O)  failed to comply with the provisions of a   court order that specifically established the actions necessary for   the parent to obtain the return of the child who has been in the   permanent or temporary managing conservatorship of the Department   of Family and Protective Services for not less than nine months as a   result of the child's removal from the parent under Chapter 262 for   the abuse or neglect of the child;                      (P)  used a controlled substance, as defined by   Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code, in a manner that endangered the   health or safety of the child, and:                            (i)  failed to complete a court-ordered   substance abuse treatment program; or                            (ii)  after completion of a court-ordered   substance abuse treatment program, continued to abuse a controlled   substance;                      (Q)  knowingly engaged in criminal conduct that   has resulted in the parent's:                            (i)  conviction of an offense; and                            (ii)  confinement or imprisonment and   inability to care for the child for not less than two years from the   date of filing the petition;                      (R)  been the cause of the child being born   addicted to alcohol or a controlled substance, other than a   controlled substance legally obtained by prescription;                      (S)  voluntarily delivered the child to a   designated emergency infant care provider under Section 262.302   without expressing an intent to return for the child;                      (T)  been convicted of:                            (i)  the murder of the other parent of the   child under Section 19.02 or 19.03, Penal Code, or under a law of   another state, federal law, the law of a foreign country, or the   Uniform Code of Military Justice that contains elements that are   substantially similar to the elements of an offense under Section   19.02 or 19.03, Penal Code;                            (ii)  criminal attempt under Section 15.01,   Penal Code, or under a law of another state, federal law, the law of   a foreign country, or the Uniform Code of Military Justice that   contains elements that are substantially similar to the elements of   an offense under Section 15.01, Penal Code, to commit the offense   described by Subparagraph (i);                            (iii)  criminal solicitation under Section   15.03, Penal Code, or under a law of another state, federal law, the   law of a foreign country, or the Uniform Code of Military Justice   that contains elements that are substantially similar to the   elements of an offense under Section 15.03, Penal Code, of the   offense described by Subparagraph (i); or                            (iv)  the sexual assault of the other parent   of the child under Section 22.011 or 22.021, Penal Code, or under a   law of another state, federal law, or the Uniform Code of Military   Justice that contains elements that are substantially similar to   the elements of an offense under Section 22.011 or 22.021, Penal   Code; or                      (U)  been placed on community supervision,   including deferred adjudication community supervision, or another   functionally equivalent form of community supervision or   probation, for being criminally responsible for the sexual assault   of the other parent of the child under Section 22.011 or 22.021,   Penal Code, or under a law of another state, federal law, or the   Uniform Code of Military Justice that contains elements that are   substantially similar to the elements of an offense under Section   22.011 or 22.021, Penal Code; and                (2)  that termination is in the best interest of the   child.          SECTION 6.  Section 262.2015(b), Family Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (b)  The court may find under Subsection (a) that a parent   has subjected the child to aggravated circumstances if:                (1)  the parent abandoned the child without   identification or a means for identifying the child;                (2)  the child or another child of the parent is a   victim of serious bodily injury or sexual abuse inflicted by the   parent or by another person with the parent's consent;                (3)  the parent has engaged in conduct against the   child or another child of the parent that would constitute an   offense under the following provisions of the Penal Code:                      (A)  Section 19.02 (murder);                      (B)  Section 19.03 (capital murder);                      (C)  Section 19.04 (manslaughter);                      (D)  Section 21.11 (indecency with a child);                      (E)  Section 22.011 (sexual assault);                      (F)  Section 22.02 (aggravated assault);                      (G)  Section 22.021 (aggravated sexual assault);                      (H)  Section 22.04 (injury to a child, elderly   individual, or disabled individual);                      (I)  Section 22.041 (abandoning or endangering a   child, elderly individual, or disabled individual);                      (J)  Section 25.02 (prohibited sexual conduct);                      (K)  Section 43.25 (sexual performance by a   child);                      (L)  Section 43.26 (possession or promotion of   child pornography);                      (M)  Section 21.02 (continuous sexual abuse of   young child or disabled individual);                      (N)  Section 43.05(a)(2) (compelling   prostitution); or                      (O)  Section 20A.02(a)(7) or (8) (trafficking of   persons);                (4)  the parent voluntarily left the child alone or in   the possession of another person not the parent of the child for at   least six months without expressing an intent to return and without   providing adequate support for the child;                (5)  the parent has been convicted for:                      (A)  the murder of another child of the parent and   the offense would have been an offense under 18 U.S.C. Section   1111(a) if the offense had occurred in the special maritime or   territorial jurisdiction of the United States;                      (B)  the voluntary manslaughter of another child   of the parent and the offense would have been an offense under 18   U.S.C. Section 1112(a) if the offense had occurred in the special   maritime or territorial jurisdiction of the United States;                      (C)  aiding or abetting, attempting, conspiring,   or soliciting an offense under Paragraph (A) or (B); or                      (D)  the felony assault of the child or another   child of the parent that resulted in serious bodily injury to the   child or another child of the parent; or                (6)  the parent is required under any state or federal   law to register with a sex offender registry.          SECTION 7.  Section 250.006(a), Health and Safety Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (a)  A person for whom the facility or the individual   employer is entitled to obtain criminal history record information   may not be employed in a facility or by an individual employer if   the person has been convicted of an offense listed in this   subsection:                (1)  an offense under Chapter 19, Penal Code (criminal   homicide);                (2)  an offense under Chapter 20, Penal Code   (kidnapping, unlawful restraint, and smuggling of persons);                (3)  an offense under Section 21.02, Penal Code   (continuous sexual abuse of young child or disabled individual), or   Section 21.11, Penal Code (indecency with a child);                (4)  an offense under Section 22.011, Penal Code   (sexual assault);                (5)  an offense under Section 22.02, Penal Code   (aggravated assault);                (6)  an offense under Section 22.04, Penal Code (injury   to a child, elderly individual, or disabled individual);                (7)  an offense under Section 22.041, Penal Code   (abandoning or endangering a child, elderly individual, or disabled   individual);                (8)  an offense under Section 22.08, Penal Code (aiding   suicide);                (9)  an offense under Section 25.031, Penal Code   (agreement to abduct from custody);                (10)  an offense under Section 25.08, Penal Code (sale   or purchase of child);                (11)  an offense under Section 28.02, Penal Code   (arson);                (12)  an offense under Section 29.02, Penal Code   (robbery);                (13)  an offense under Section 29.03, Penal Code   (aggravated robbery);                (14)  an offense under Section 21.08, Penal Code   (indecent exposure);                (15)  an offense under Section 21.12, Penal Code   (improper relationship between educator and student);                (16)  an offense under Section 21.15, Penal Code   (invasive visual recording);                (17)  an offense under Section 22.05, Penal Code   (deadly conduct);                (18)  an offense under Section 22.021, Penal Code   (aggravated sexual assault);                (19)  an offense under Section 22.07, Penal Code   (terroristic threat);                (20)  an offense under Section 32.53, Penal Code   (exploitation of child, elderly individual, or disabled   individual);                (21)  an offense under Section 33.021, Penal Code   (online solicitation of a minor);                (22)  an offense under Section 34.02, Penal Code (money   laundering);                (23)  an offense under Section 35A.02, Penal Code   (health care fraud);                (24)  an offense under Section 36.06, Penal Code   (obstruction or retaliation);                (25)  an offense under Section 42.09, Penal Code   (cruelty to livestock animals), or under Section 42.092, Penal Code   (cruelty to nonlivestock animals); or                (26)  a conviction under the laws of another state,   federal law, or the Uniform Code of Military Justice for an offense   containing elements that are substantially similar to the elements   of an offense listed by this subsection.          SECTION 8.  Section 301.4535(a), Occupations Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (a)  The board shall suspend a nurse's license or refuse to   issue a license to an applicant on proof that the nurse or applicant   has been initially convicted of:                (1)  murder under Section 19.02, Penal Code, capital   murder under Section 19.03, Penal Code, or manslaughter under   Section 19.04, Penal Code;                (2)  kidnapping or unlawful restraint under Chapter 20,   Penal Code, and the offense was punished as a felony or state jail   felony;                (3)  sexual assault under Section 22.011, Penal Code;                (4)  aggravated sexual assault under Section 22.021,   Penal Code;                (5)  continuous sexual abuse of young child or disabled   individual under Section 21.02, Penal Code, or indecency with a   child under Section 21.11, Penal Code;                (6)  aggravated assault under Section 22.02, Penal   Code;                (7)  intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly injuring   a child, elderly individual, or disabled individual under Section   22.04, Penal Code;                (8)  intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly   abandoning or endangering a child, elderly individual, or disabled   individual under Section 22.041, Penal Code;                (9)  aiding suicide under Section 22.08, Penal Code,   and the offense was punished as a state jail felony;                (10)  an offense involving a violation of certain court   orders or conditions of bond under Section 25.07, 25.071, or   25.072, Penal Code, punished as a felony;                (11)  an agreement to abduct a child from custody under   Section 25.031, Penal Code;                (12)  the sale or purchase of a child under Section   25.08, Penal Code;                (13)  robbery under Section 29.02, Penal Code;                (14)  aggravated robbery under Section 29.03, Penal   Code;                (15)  an offense for which a defendant is required to   register as a sex offender under Chapter 62, Code of Criminal   Procedure; or                (16)  an offense under the law of another state,   federal law, or the Uniform Code of Military Justice that contains   elements that are substantially similar to the elements of an   offense listed in this subsection.          SECTION 9.  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 was committed before that   date.          SECTION 10.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.     * * * * *