SB2792 - Relating to harassment of hospital personnel while the person is on hospital property.

      By: West S.B. No. 2792               A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to harassment of hospital personnel while the person is on   hospital property.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 22.11, Texas Penal Code, is amended by   amending Subsections (a) and (d) to read as follows:          (a)  A person commits an offense if, with the intent to   assault, harass, or alarm, the person:                (1)  while imprisoned or confined in a correctional or   detention facility, causes another person to contact the blood,   seminal fluid, vaginal fluid, saliva, urine, or feces of the actor,   any other person, or an animal;                (2)  while committed to a civil commitment facility,   causes:                      (A)  an officer or employee of the Texas Civil   Commitment Office to contact the blood, seminal fluid, vaginal   fluid, saliva, urine, or feces of the actor, any other person, or an   animal:                            (i)  while the officer or employee is   lawfully discharging an official duty at a civil commitment   facility; or                            (ii)  in retaliation for or on account of an   exercise of official power or performance of an official duty by the   officer or employee; or                      (B)  a person who contracts with the state to   perform a service in the facility or an employee of that person to   contact the blood, seminal fluid, vaginal fluid, saliva, urine, or   feces of the actor, any other person, or an animal:                            (i)  while the person or employee is engaged   in performing a service within the scope of the contract, if the   actor knows the person or employee is authorized by the state to   provide the service; or                            (ii)  in retaliation for or on account of the   person's or employee's performance of a service within the scope of   the contract; [ or ]                (3)  causes another person the actor knows to be a   public servant to contact the blood, seminal fluid, vaginal fluid,   saliva, urine, or feces of the actor, any other person, or an animal   while the public servant is lawfully discharging an official duty   or in retaliation or on account of an exercise of the public   servant's official power or performance of an official duty ; or                 (4)     while on hospital property, causes hospital   personnel to contact the blood, seminal fluid, vaginal fluid,   saliva, urine, or feces of the actor, any other person, or an animal   as an act of physical force unless the contact occurs in the   ordinary course of delivering healthcare services .          (d)  In this section : [ , ]                 (1)   "correctional or detention facility" means:                       (A)  [ (1) ]  a secure correctional facility; or                       (B)  [ (2) ]  a "secure correctional facility" or a   "secure detention facility" as defined by Section 51.02, Family   Code, operated by or under contract with a juvenile board or the   Texas Juvenile Justice Department or any other facility operated by   or under contract with that department ; and                   (2)     "hospital personnel" includes nurses, physicians,   physician assistants, maintenance or janitorial staff,   receptionists, and other individuals who are employed by or work in   a facility that is licensed as a general hospital or special   hospital, as those terms are defined by Section 241.003, Health and   Safety Code, including a hospital maintained or operated by the   state .          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.