Signed by Governor Rick Perry

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill increasing penalties for violent or continuous sexual offenses against children.

Highlights:

- Defines continuous sexual abuse of a child as multiple offenses committed by someone 17 or older against a child under the age of 14 during a period of 30 or more days [sec. 1.02 (ch. 21)(sec. 21.02)(b)]. - Institutes a minimum sentence of 25 years for those convicted of continuous sexual offenses against children [sec. 1.02 (ch. 21)(sec. 21.02)(h)]. - Classifies repeat offenders as capital offenders, making them eligible for the death penalty upon conviction [sec. 1.02 (ch. 21)(sec. 21.02)(i)]. - Allows a jury to take any evidence into account when deliberating whether to sentence a continuous sexual offender to death or to life in prison without parole [sec. 1.03 (ch. 37)(art. 37.072)]. - Extends the statute of limitations for prosecution of continuous sexual offenses to the victim's 38th birthday [sec. 1.04 (art. 12.01)(5-6)]. - Requires continuous sexual offenders to serve the entirety of their sentence without the opportunity for parole [sec. 1.05 (sec. 508.145)(c-1)]. - Classifies the failure of an employee of a state agency or entity to report continuous sexual abuse of a child as a class 2 felony [sec. 2.56 (ch. 39)(sec. 39.07)].

Full Bill Text