Texas § 481.140 USE OF CHILD IN COMMISSION OF OFFENSE.

Texas Statutes

§ 481.140 — USE OF CHILD IN COMMISSION OF OFFENSE.

Texas § 481.140

Code HSHealth and Safety Code

This text of Texas § 481.140 (USE OF CHILD IN COMMISSION OF OFFENSE.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Tex. Health and Safety Code Code Ann. § 481.140 (2026).

Text

Sec. 481.140. USE OF CHILD IN COMMISSION OF OFFENSE.

(a)If it is shown at the punishment phase of the trial of an offense otherwise punishable as a state jail felony, felony of the third degree, or felony of the second degree under Section 481.112 , 481.1121 , 481.1123 , 481.113 , 481.114 , 481.120 , or 481.122 that the defendant used or attempted to use a child younger than 18 years of age to commit or assist in the commission of the offense, the punishment is increased by one degree, unless the defendant used or threatened to use force against the child or another to gain the child's assistance, in which event the punishment for the offense is a felony of the first degree.

(b)Notwithstanding Article 42.08 , Code of Criminal Procedure, if punishment for a defendant is increased under th

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Sec. 481.140. USE OF CHILD IN COMMISSION OF OFFENSE. (a) If it is shown at the punishment phase of the trial of an offense otherwise punishable as a state jail felony, felony of the third degree, or felony of the second degree under Section 481.112 , 481.1121 , 481.1123 , 481.113 , 481.114 , 481.120 , or 481.122 that the defendant used or attempted to use a child younger than 18 years of age to commit or assist in the commission of the offense, the punishment is increased by one degree, unless the defendant used or threatened to use force against the child or another to gain the child's assistance, in which event the punishment for the offense is a felony of the first degree.
(b) Notwithstanding Article 42.08 , Code of Criminal Procedure, if punishment for a defendant is increased under this section, the court may not order the sentence for the offense to run concurrently with any other sentence the court imposes on the defendant.

Legislative History

Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 786, Sec. 1, eff. June 14, 2001. Amended by: Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 584 (S.B. 768 ), Sec. 11, eff. September 1, 2021.