Texas Penal Code 20A.02 – Trafficking of Persons
(a) A person commits an offense if the person knowingly:
(1) traffics another person with the intent that the trafficked person engage in forced labor or services;
(2) receives a benefit from participating in a venture that involves an activity described by Subdivision (1), including by receiving labor or services the person knows are forced labor or services;
(3) traffics another person and, through force, fraud, or coercion, causes the trafficked person to engage in conduct prohibited by:
(A) § 43.02 (Prostitution);
(B) § 43.03 (Promotion of Prostitution);
(B-1) § 43.031 (Online Promotion of Prostitution);
(C) § 43.04 (Aggravated Promotion of Prostitution);
(C-1) § 43.041 (Aggravated Online Promotion of Prostitution); or
(D) § 43.05 (Compelling Prostitution);
(4) receives a benefit from participating in a venture that involves an activity described by Subdivision (3) or engages in sexual conduct with a person trafficked in the manner described in Subdivision (3);
(5) traffics a child or disabled individual with the intent that the trafficked child or disabled individual engage in forced labor or services;
(6) receives a benefit from participating in a venture that involves an activity described by Subdivision (5), including by receiving labor or services the person knows are forced labor or services;
(7) traffics a child or disabled individual and by any means causes the trafficked child or disabled individual to engage in, or become the victim of, conduct prohibited by:
(A) § 21.02 (Continuous Sexual Abuse of Young Child or Disabled Individual);
(B) § 21.11 (Indecency with a Child);
(C) § 22.011 (Sexual Assault);
(D) § 22.021 (Aggravated Sexual Assault);
(E) § 43.02 (Prostitution);
(E-1) § 43.021 (Solicitation of Prostitution);
(F) § 43.03 (Promotion of Prostitution);
(F-1) § 43.031 (Online Promotion of Prostitution);
(G) § 43.04 (Aggravated Promotion of Prostitution);
(G-1) § 43.041 (Aggravated Online Promotion of Prostitution);
(H) § 43.05 (Compelling Prostitution);
(I) § 43.25 (Sexual Performance by a Child);
(J) § 43.251 (Employment Harmful to Children); or
(K) § 43.26 (Possession or Promotion of Child Pornography); or
(8) receives a benefit from participating in a venture that involves an activity described by Subdivision (7) or engages in sexual conduct with a child or disabled individual trafficked in the manner described in Subdivision (7).
(a-1) Repealed by Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 807 (H.B. 1540), Sec. 62(5) and Ch. 905 (H.B. 3521), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2021.
Terms Used In Texas Penal Code 20A.02
- Another: means a person other than the actor. See Texas Penal Code 1.07
- Benefit: means anything reasonably regarded as economic gain or advantage, including benefit to any other person in whose welfare the beneficiary is interested. See Texas Penal Code 1.07
- Coercion: means a threat, however communicated:
(A) to commit an offense;
(B) to inflict bodily injury in the future on the person threatened or another;
(C) to accuse a person of any offense;
(D) to expose a person to hatred, contempt, or ridicule;
(E) to harm the credit or business repute of any person; or
(F) to take or withhold action as a public servant, or to cause a public servant to take or withhold action. See Texas Penal Code 1.07 - Conduct: means an act or omission and its accompanying mental state. See Texas Penal Code 1.07
- Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.
- Individual: means a human being who is alive, including an unborn child at every stage of gestation from fertilization until birth. See Texas Penal Code 1.07
- Person: means an individual or a corporation, association, limited liability company, or other entity or organization governed by the Business Organizations Code. See Texas Penal Code 1.07