HB2772 - Relating to an affirmative defense to prosecution for victims of certain offenses.

  89R12703 MCF-F     By: Thompson H.B. No. 2772       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to an affirmative defense to prosecution for victims of   certain offenses.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Chapter 8, Penal Code, is amended by adding   Section 8.09 to read as follows:           Sec.   8.09.     VICTIM OF TRAFFICKING, COMPELLING PROSTITUTION,   OR FAMILY VIOLENCE.   (a)   It is an affirmative defense to   prosecution that the actor engaged in the conduct charged because   the actor was coerced, acting under duress, or reasonably feared   harm as a result of being the victim of an offense:                 (1)  under Section 20A.02 or 43.05; or                 (2)  punishable under Section 22.01(b)(2).           (b)     Information relevant to the identification of a   defendant's status as a victim of an offense described by   Subsection (a) may be offered to establish an affirmative defense   under this section.          SECTION 2.  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 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.