Emily Ramshaw of the Dallas Morning News reports that a conference committee of House and Senate lawmakers have settled differences between two versions of HB 8. LINK
Key lawmakers in both chambers said Friday that they have reached a compromise on the Jessica's Law sex offender bills passed by the House and Senate, nearly ensuring that Texas will be the sixth U.S. state to allow capital punishment for certain sex crimes against children.
Under the version approved in conference committee late this week, the death penalty would be reserved for offenders who have been convicted twice of raping a child.
A first conviction for raping a child under 6 would come with a mandatory 25-year minimum sentence, as would cases against youths between age 7 and 14 that involve a weapon, bodily harm or kidnapping.
The legislation also creates a new charge – continuous sexual abuse of a child – to punish habitual child-sex offenders. Though the House version of the bill would've made that crime eligible for capital punishment on a second conviction, under the compromise, it would carry a 25-year minimum sentence.
Both chambers will have to ratify the conference committee's recommendation. That could happen this week, the bill would then go to the governor for his signature. Because it was designated as emergency legislation HB 8 will become law once it is signed by Governor Perry. Earlier coverage is here.
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