SB535 - Relating to the admissibility of evidence regarding a victim's past sexual behavior in prosecutions of certain trafficking, sexual, or assaultive offenses.

      S.B. No. 535         AN ACT   relating to the admissibility of evidence regarding a victim's past   sexual behavior in prosecutions of certain trafficking, sexual, or   assaultive offenses.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Chapter 38, Code of Criminal Procedure, is   amended by adding Article 38.372 to read as follows:           Art.   38.372.     EVIDENCE OF VICTIM'S PAST SEXUAL BEHAVIOR.     (a)   In this article, "victim" includes the victim of an extraneous   offense or act with respect to which evidence is introduced during   the prosecution of an offense described by Subsection (b).           (b)     This article applies to a proceeding in the prosecution   of a defendant for an offense, or for an attempt or conspiracy to   commit an offense, under any of the following provisions of the   Penal Code:                 (1)     Section 20A.02(a)(3), (4), (7), or (8)   (Trafficking of Persons);                 (2)     Section 20A.03 (Continuous Trafficking of   Persons), if the offense is based partly or wholly on conduct that   constitutes an offense under Section 20A.02(a)(3), (4), (7), or   (8);                 (3)     Section 21.02 (Continuous Sexual Abuse of Young   Child or Disabled Individual);                 (4)  Section 21.11 (Indecency with a Child);                 (5)  Section 22.011 (Sexual Assault);                 (6)  Section 22.012 (Indecent Assault); or                 (7)  Section 22.021 (Aggravated Sexual Assault).           (c)     In the prosecution of an offense described by Subsection   (b), reputation or opinion evidence of a victim's past sexual   behavior is not admissible.           (d)     Except as provided by Subsection (e), in the prosecution   of an offense described by Subsection (b), evidence of a specific   instance of a victim's past sexual behavior is not admissible.           (e)     A defendant may not offer evidence of a specific   instance of a victim's past sexual behavior unless the court:                 (1)     on a motion by the defendant made outside the   presence of the jury, conducts an in camera examination of the   evidence in the presence of the court reporter; and                 (2)     determines that the probative value of the   evidence outweighs the danger of unfair prejudice to the victim and   that the evidence:                       (A)     is necessary to rebut or explain scientific   or medical evidence offered by the attorney representing the state;                       (B)     concerns past sexual behavior with the   defendant and is offered by the defendant to prove consent, if the   lack of consent is an element of the offense;                       (C)  relates to the victim's motive or bias;                       (D)     is admissible under Rule 609, Texas Rules of   Evidence; or                       (E)  is constitutionally required to be admitted.           (f)     The court shall seal the record of the in camera   examination conducted under Subsection (e)(1) and preserve the   examination record as part of the record in the case.          SECTION 2.  Under the terms of Section 22.109(b), Government   Code, Rule 412, Texas Rules of Evidence, is disapproved.          SECTION 3.  The change in law made by this Act applies to the   admissibility of evidence in a criminal proceeding that commences   on or after the effective date of this Act.  The admissibility of   evidence in a criminal proceeding that commences before the   effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the   date the proceeding commenced, and the former law is continued in   effect for that purpose.          SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.               ______________________________ ______________________________      President of the Senate Speaker of the House                 I hereby certify that S.B. No. 535 passed the Senate on   March 24, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0.       ______________________________   Secretary of the Senate                I hereby certify that S.B. No. 535 passed the House on   May 24, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 135, Nays 0, two   present not voting.       ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House            Approved:     ______________________________                Date       ______________________________              Governor