Tex. Penal Code § 21.11 · Chapter 21. SEXUAL OFFENSES
INDECENCY WITH A CHILD.
Text — Current through the 89th 2nd Called Legislative Session, 2025
(a) A person commits an offense if, with a child younger than 17 years of age, whether the child is of the same or opposite sex and regardless of whether the person knows the age of the child at the time of the offense, the person:
(1) engages in sexual contact with the child or causes the child to engage in sexual contact; or
(2) with intent to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person:
(A) exposes the person's anus or any part of the person's genitals, knowing the child is present; or
(B) causes the child to expose the child's anus or any part of the child's genitals.
(b) It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under this section that the actor:
(1) was not more than three years older than the victim and of the opposite sex;
(2) did not use duress, force, or a threat against the victim at the time of the offense; and
(3) at the time of the offense:
(A) was not required under Chapter 62, Code of Criminal Procedure, to register for life as a sex offender; or
(B) was not a person who under Chapter 62 had a reportable conviction or adjudication for an offense under this section.
(b-1) It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under this section that the actor was the spouse of the child at the time of the offense.
(c) In this section, "sexual contact" means the following acts, if committed with the intent to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person:
(1) any touching by a person, including touching through clothing, of the anus, breast, or any part of the genitals of a child; or
(2) any touching of any part of the body of a child, including touching through clothing, with the anus, breast, or any part of the genitals of a person.
(d) An offense under Subsection (a)(1) is a felony of the second degree and an offense under Subsection (a)(2) is a felony of the third degree.
Notes and commentary — not statutory text
History
Acts 1973, 63rd Leg., p. 883, ch. 399, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1974. Amended by Acts 1981, 67th Leg., p. 472, ch. 202, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 1981; Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 1028, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987; Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 900, Sec. 1.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1994; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1415, Sec. 23, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 739, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
Amended by:
Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 260 (H.B. 549), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2009.
Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 685 (H.B. 29), Sec. 32, eff. September 1, 2017.
Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1038 (H.B. 1808), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2017.
Source of truth
- Edition
- Current through the 89th 2nd Called Legislative Session, 2025
- Official file
- https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/PE/htm/PE.21.htm
- Text hash
- sha256 db80ae960c8f1a53e9f48e86b0765d3d6c103c29e536ebfb81c2aeceb6c7df8e
- Composed by
- compose_tx.py 2026-10-05: the Legislative Council's chapter files read in document order; verify_tx.py's independent reading (lxml DOM walk) agrees character for character
This section cites
Provisions in this library that the text above cites, as it prints each citation. A range cited as “ss. 61.13-61.16” links its first and last provisions.
Cited by 61 provisions
Provisions in this library whose text cites Tex. Penal Code § 21.11; the first 50 in book order. Each shows the citation as that text prints it.
Civil Practice and Remedies Code
- Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.0045LIMITATIONS PERIOD FOR CLAIMS ARISING FROM CERTAIN OFFENSES.Printed as Section 21.11, Penal Code
- Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 61.0021GROUNDS FOR ATTACHMENT IN SUIT FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT.Printed as Section 21.11, Penal Code
- Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 118.001DEFINITIONS.Printed as Section 20A.02, 21.02, 21.07, 21.08, 21.11, 21.12, 21.15, 21.16, 21.165, 21.17, 21.18, 21.19, 22.011, 22.012, 22.021, or 43.25, Penal Code
- Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 129C.001DEFINITION.Printed as Section 21.11, Penal Code
Code of Criminal Procedure
- Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 7B.001APPLICATION FOR PROTECTIVE ORDER.Printed as Section 20A.02, 20A.03, 21.02, 21.11, 22.011, 22.012, 22.021, 42.072, or 43.05, Penal Code
- Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 7B.004HEARSAY STATEMENT OF CHILD VICTIM.Printed as Section 21.02, 21.11, 22.011, 22.012, or 22.021, Penal Code
- Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 12.01FELONIES.Printed as Section 21.11, Penal Code
- Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 15.051POLYGRAPH EXAMINATION OF COMPLAINANT PROHIBITED.Printed as Section 21.02, 21.11, 22.011, 22.021, or 25.02, Penal Code
- Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 21.31TESTING FOR AIDS AND CERTAIN OTHER DISEASES.Printed as Section 21.02, 21.11(a)(1), 22.011, or 22.021, Penal Code
- Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 24A.001APPLICABILITY OF SUBCHAPTER.Printed as Section 21.02, 21.11, 22.011, or 22.021, Penal Code
- Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 42.017FINDING REGARDING AGE-BASED OFFENSE.Printed as Section 21.11 or 22.011, Penal Code
- Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 42A.054LIMITATION ON JUDGE-ORDERED COMMUNITY SUPERVISION.Printed as Section 21.02, 21.03, 21.11, 22.011, 22.021, or 25.02, Penal Code | Section 21.11, Penal Code
- Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 42A.056LIMITATION ON JURY-RECOMMENDED COMMUNITY SUPERVISION.Printed as Section 21.11, 22.011, or 22.021, Penal Code
- Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 42A.102ELIGIBILITY FOR DEFERRED ADJUDICATION COMMUNITY SUPERVISION.Printed as Section 21.11, 22.011, 22.021, 43.04, or 43.05, Penal Code | Section 21.11, 22.011, or 22.021, Penal Code
- Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 42A.103PERIOD OF DEFERRED ADJUDICATION COMMUNITY SUPERVISION.Printed as Section 21.11, 22.011, or 22.021, Penal Code
- Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 42A.105AFFIRMATIVE FINDINGS.Printed as Section 21.11 or 22.011, Penal Code
- Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 42A.303SUBSTANCE ABUSE FELONY PROGRAM.Printed as Section 21.11, 22.011, or 22.021, Penal Code
- Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 42A.453CHILD SAFETY ZONE.Printed as Section 21.08, 21.11, 22.011, 22.021, or 25.02, Penal Code
- Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 42A.454CERTAIN INTERNET ACTIVITY PROHIBITED.Printed as Section 21.11, 22.011(a)(2), 22.021(a)(1)(B), 33.021, or 43.25, Penal Code
- Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 42A.455PAYMENT TO CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER.Printed as Section 21.11 or 22.011(a)(2), Penal Code
- Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 42A.653ADDITIONAL MONTHLY FINE FOR CERTAIN SEX OFFENDERS.Printed as Section 21.08, 21.11, 22.011, 22.021, 25.02, 43.25, or 43.26, Penal Code
- Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 42A.752CONTINUATION OR MODIFICATION OF COMMUNITY SUPERVISION AFTER VIOLATION.Printed as Section 21.11, 22.011, or 22.021, Penal Code
- Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 42A.757EXTENSION OF COMMUNITY SUPERVISION FOR CERTAIN SEX OFFENDERS.Printed as Section 21.11, 22.011, or 22.021, Penal Code
- Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 56A.052ADDITIONAL RIGHTS OF VICTIMS OF CERTAIN SEXUAL, TRAFFICKING, OR BURGLARY OFFENSES.Printed as Section 21.02, 21.11, 22.011, 22.012, or 22.021, Penal Code
- Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 56B.003DEFINITIONS.Printed as Section 21.02, 21.11(a)(1), 22.011, or 22.021, Penal Code
- Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 58.051DEFINITIONS.Printed as Section 21.02, 21.11, or 25.02, Penal Code
- Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 62.101EXPIRATION OF DUTY TO REGISTER.Printed as Section 21.11(a)(2), Penal Code
- Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 62.301EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION FOR CERTAIN YOUNG ADULT SEX OFFENDERS.Printed as Section 21.11 or 22.011, Penal Code
- Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 102.0186FINE FOR CERTAIN CHILD SEXUAL ASSAULT AND RELATED CONVICTIONS.Printed as Section 21.02, 21.11, 22.011(a)(2), 22.021(a)(1)(B), 43.25, 43.251, or 43.26, Penal Code
Education Code
Family Code
- Tex. Fam. Code § 53.045OFFENSES ELIGIBLE FOR DETERMINATE SENTENCE.Printed as Section 21.11(a)(1), Penal Code
- Tex. Fam. Code § 54.033SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE, AIDS, AND HIV TESTING.Printed as Sections 21.11(a)(1), 22.011, or 22.021, Penal Code
- Tex. Fam. Code § 156.104MODIFICATION OF ORDER ON CONVICTION FOR CHILD ABUSE; PENALTY.Printed as Section 21.02, 21.11, 22.011, or 22.021, Penal Code | Section 21.11, 22.011, or 22.021, Penal Code
- Tex. Fam. Code § 261.001DEFINITIONS.Printed as Section 21.11, Penal Code
- Tex. Fam. Code § 261.101PERSONS REQUIRED TO REPORT; TIME TO REPORT.Printed as Section 21.11, Penal Code
Government Code
Occupations Code
- Tex. Occ. Code § 164.057REQUIRED SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION OF LICENSE FOR CERTAIN OFFENSES.Printed as Section 21.11, Penal Code
- Tex. Occ. Code § 301.4535REQUIRED SUSPENSION, REVOCATION, OR REFUSAL OF LICENSE FOR CERTAIN OFFENSES.Printed as Section 21.11, Penal Code
- Tex. Occ. Code § 455.152INELIGIBILITY FOR LICENSE.Printed as Section 21.02, 21.09, 21.11, 21.12, 21.15, 21.16, 21.165, 21.18, 22.011, 22.012, 22.021, 25.02, 43.021, 43.03, 43.031, 43.04, 43.041, 43.05, 43.25, 43.26, or 43.262, Penal Code
Penal Code
- Tex. Penal Code § 3.03SENTENCES FOR OFFENSES ARISING OUT OF SAME CRIMINAL EPISODE.Printed as Section 21.02, 21.11, 25.02, or 43.25
- Tex. Penal Code § 12.42PENALTIES FOR REPEAT AND HABITUAL FELONY OFFENDERS ON TRIAL FOR FIRST, SECOND, OR THIRD DEGREE FELONY.Printed as Section 21.11, Penal Code
- Tex. Penal Code § 15.032CHILD GROOMING.Printed as Section 21.11
- Tex. Penal Code § 20A.02TRAFFICKING OF PERSONS.Printed as Section 21.11
- Tex. Penal Code § 21.01DEFINITIONS.Printed as Section 21.11 or 21.12
- Tex. Penal Code § 21.02CONTINUOUS SEXUAL ABUSE OF YOUNG CHILD OR DISABLED INDIVIDUAL.Printed as Section 21.11(a)(1)
- Tex. Penal Code § 21.03CONTINUOUS SEXUAL ABUSE.Printed as Section 21.11(a)(1)
- Tex. Penal Code § 22.01ASSAULT.Printed as Section 20.03, 20.04, 21.11, or 25.11
- Tex. Penal Code § 25.07VIOLATION OF CERTAIN COURT ORDERS OR CONDITIONS OF BOND IN A FAMILY VIOLENCE, CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT, SEXUAL ASSAULT OR ABUSE, INDECENT ASSAULT, STALKING, OR TRAFFICKING CASE.Printed as Section 21.02 or 21.11
Procedural information only. Not legal advice and not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. Confirm the current text with the official publisher before relying on it.