BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 2069

By: Bettencourt

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The 87th Legislature passed H.B. 1540, which expanded investigatory tools recommended by the Texas Human Trafficking Prevention Task Force. One of the changes made by that legislation was to require primary and secondary schools to post certain warning signs relating to human trafficking. H.B. 1540 applied the new signage requirement to both public and private schools. However, private schools are not regulated in the same way that public schools are, and they should not have been made subject to that requirement. S.B. 2069 seeks to remedy this situation by removing private schools from the applicability of the signage requirement. 

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

S.B. 2069 amends the Education Code to revise statutory provisions relating to the requirement for schools to post warning signs of increased trafficking penalties at certain locations, as follows:

· removes a private primary or secondary school from the applicability of the requirement;

· removes the specification that the warning signs must be posted in the following locations:

o parallel to and along the exterior boundaries of the school's premises;

o at each roadway or other way of access to the premises;

o for premises not fenced, at least every five hundred feet along the exterior boundaries of the premises; and

o at each entrance to the premises; and

· clarifies that the warning signs must be posted in a conspicuous place reasonably likely to be viewed by all school employees and visitors.

The bill removes the requirement that rules adopted by the Texas Education Agency, in consultation with the human trafficking prevention task force, address the placement, installation, design, size, and maintenance procedures for the warning signs.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2023.