84R7910 MEW-D
 
  By: Villalba H.B. No. 2918
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the prosecution of the offense of interference with
  public duties; increasing a penalty.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 38.15, Penal Code, is amended by
  amending Subsections (b) and (e) and adding Subsections (f) and (g)
  to read as follows:
         (b)  An offense under this section is a Class B misdemeanor,
  except that an offense under Subsection (a)(1) that is based on
  conduct described by Subsection (f)(2) is a Class A misdemeanor.
         (e)  In this section:
               (1)  "Emergency" [, "emergency"] means a condition or
  circumstance in which an individual is or is reasonably believed by
  the person transmitting the communication to be in imminent danger
  of serious bodily injury or in which property is or is reasonably
  believed by the person transmitting the communication to be in
  imminent danger of damage or destruction.
               (2)  "News media" means:
                     (A)  a radio or television station that holds a
  license issued by the Federal Communications Commission;
                     (B)  a newspaper that is qualified under Section
  2051.044, Government Code, to publish legal notices or is a free
  newspaper of general circulation and that is published at least
  once a week and available and of interest to the general public in
  connection with the dissemination of news or public affairs; or
                     (C)  a magazine that appears at a regular
  interval, that contains stories, articles, and essays by various
  writers, and that is available and of interest to the general public
  in connection with the dissemination of news or public affairs.
         (f)  For purposes of Subsection (a)(1), an interruption,
  disruption, impediment, or interference that occurs while a peace
  officer is performing a duty or exercising authority imposed or
  granted by law includes a person:
               (1)  filming, recording, photographing, or documenting
  the officer within 25 feet of the officer; or
               (2)  filming, recording, photographing, or documenting
  the officer within 100 feet of the officer while carrying a handgun
  under the authority of Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code.
         (g)  It is a defense to prosecution for an offense under
  Subsection (a)(1) based on conduct described by Subsection (f)(2)
  that the interruption, disruption, impediment, or interference was
  caused by a person who, at the time of the offense, was:
               (1)  a news media employee acting in the course and
  scope of the person's employment; or
               (2)  employed by or working with an organization or
  entity engaged in law enforcement activities.
         SECTION 2.  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 on the date 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 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.