TITLE: Relating to prohibiting making, or encouraging or inducing another to make, silent or abusive calls to a 9-1-1 service or public safety answering point; creating a criminal offense.

SUMMARY: Relating to prohibiting making, or encouraging or inducing another to make, silent or abusive calls to a 9-1-1 service or public safety answering point; creating a criminal offense.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to prohibiting making, or encouraging or inducing another to make, silent or abusive calls to a 9-1-1 service or public safety answering point; creating a criminal offense. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. The heading to Section 42.061, Penal Code, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 42.061. SILENT OR ABUSIVE CALLS TO 9-1-1 SERVICE OR PUBLIC SAFETY ANSWERING POINT.SECTION 2. Section 42.061, Penal Code, is amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c-1) to read as follows: (b) A person commits an offense if the person makes a call to a 9-1-1 service or PSAP,or requests 9-1-1 service or PSAP assistance using an electronic communications device, when there is not an emergency and knowingly or intentionally: (1) remains silent; or (2) makes abusive or harassing statements to a PSAP employee. (c-1) A person commits an offense if, with intent to harass, annoy, alarm, abuse, torment, or embarrass a PSAP employee or other public servant, the person encourages or induces another to make a call to a 9-1-1 service or PSAP or request 9-1-1 service or PSAP assistance using an electronic communications device. SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies only to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect when the offense was committed, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred before that date. SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.