HBA-JLV S.B. 932 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 932
By: Carona
Criminal Jurisprudence
5/3/2001
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently under Texas law, sexual contact is defined as "any touching of
the anus, breast, or any part of the genitals of another person with intent
to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of another person." Senate Bill 932
includes conduct that is clearly meant to arouse the sexual desire of the
perpetrator in the definition of "sexual contact" and modifies the offense
of indecency with a child.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

Senate Bill 932 amends the Penal Code to modify the definition of "sexual
contact."   The bill provides that "sexual contact" means the following
acts, if committed with the intent to arouse or gratify the sexual desire
of any person, any touching by a person, including touching through
clothing, of the anus, breast, or any part of the genitals of a child, or
any touching of any part of the body of a child, including touching through
clothing, with the anus, breast, or any part of the genitals of a person.   

The bill  provides that a person commits an offense if, with a child
younger than 17 years and not the person's spouse, whether the child is of
the same or opposite sex, the person causes the child to engage in sexual
contact or the person, with intent to arouse or gratify the sexual desire
of any person, causes the child to expose the child's anus or any part of
the child's genitals.   

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.