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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to combating human trafficking by the Texas Department of |
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Licensing and Regulation. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 51, Occupations Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter K to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER K. COMBATING HUMAN TRAFFICKING |
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Sec. 51.551. ANTI-TRAFFICKING ACTIVITIES. The department |
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may combat human trafficking by: |
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(1) establishing within the department an |
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anti-trafficking unit; |
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(2) identifying businesses operating within |
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industries regulated by the department that are impacted by human |
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trafficking; and |
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(3) coordinating with: |
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(A) the office of the attorney general, including |
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any council, task force, or work group established by that office to |
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combat human trafficking; |
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(B) local, state, and federal law enforcement |
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agencies; and |
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(C) any nongovernmental entity engaged in |
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efforts to combat human trafficking or assist victims. |
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Sec. 51.552. RULES. The commission may adopt rules to |
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combat human trafficking for any program regulated by the |
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department, including rules for conducting inspections and |
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investigations under Section 51.351. |
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Sec. 51.553. CONFIDENTIALITY OF RECORDS IDENTIFYING |
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VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING. (a) Information that identifies an |
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individual as a victim of human trafficking is confidential and |
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excepted from disclosure under Section 552.021, Government Code. |
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(b) The department may withhold the information without the |
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necessity of requesting a decision from the attorney general under |
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Subchapter G, Chapter 552, Government Code. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |