Rule Text
In this subchapter, "victim" means a person who is the subject of:
(1) an offense that allegedly constitutes:
(A) stalking under Section 42.072, Penal Code;
(B) invasive visual recording under Section 21.15, Penal Code; or
(C) indecent assault under Section 22.012, Penal Code; or
(2) an offense that is part of the same criminal episode, as defined by Section 3.01, Penal Code, as an offense described by Subdivision (1).
Amendment history: Added by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 469 (H.B. 4173), Sec. 1.07, eff. January 1, 2021.
Amended by:
Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 8 (S.B. 487), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2025.
Plain-English Summary (for reference only — not a substitute for the rule text above)
This summary is not the rule. The rule text controls.
This rule explains who counts as a "victim" for a specific section of Texas law dealing with certain crimes. It says a victim is someone who has been targeted by one of three specific crimes: stalking, invasive visual recording (like secretly filming someone), or indecent assault.
The rule also covers a second situation. If someone is harmed by a different crime, but that crime happened as part of the same overall criminal event as one of the three crimes listed above, that person also counts as a victim under this rule.
In simple terms, this definition decides who gets certain legal protections or rights connected to this part of the law. It makes sure that people harmed by related crimes, not just the main charge, are still recognized and protected if their situation is tied to stalking, invasive recording, or indecent assault.