BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2313

By: Thompson, Senfronia

Licensing & Administrative Procedures

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Law enforcement has gathered evidence of human trafficking victims, including child victims, being transported by rideshare applications operated by transportation network companies. These applications provide traffickers with a way to move victims virtually anywhere without having to leave their home, making traffickers even more difficult to catch "in the act" and making rideshare drivers unwitting aids in the course of this exploitation. H.B. 2313 seeks to address this issue by requiring transportation network companies to annually provide each of their drivers with human trafficking awareness and prevention materials.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 2313 amends the Occupations Code to require a transportation network company to annually provide to each driver who is authorized to log in to the company's digital network human trafficking awareness and prevention training materials that meet the following criteria:

· are provided in a digital video format or Internet-based video format;

· are a minimum of 15 minutes in duration;

· are approved by the attorney general;

· are provided in English and Spanish; and

· are provided to a new driver before the driver is authorized to provide prearranged rides using the company's digital network.

H.B. 2313 requires the training materials to include the following information:

· an overview of human trafficking, including a description of the experience of human trafficking victims, how and why human trafficking takes place in the transportation industry, and how human trafficking is defined under state and federal law;

· guidance on how to identify individuals who are most at risk for human trafficking;

· information on the difference between labor and sex trafficking as that relates to identification of human trafficking in the transportation industry;

· guidance on the role of a driver in reporting and responding to human trafficking; and

· the contact information of appropriate entities for reporting human trafficking, including the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free telephone number and text line, appropriate law enforcement agencies, and a telephone number designated by the attorney general for reporting suspected human trafficking.

H.B. 2313 requires a transportation network company to maintain records necessary to establish that the company has provided the required training materials.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2023.