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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, and a heading is added to that subchapter to |
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read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER K. COMBATING HUMAN TRAFFICKING |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter K, Chapter 51, Occupations Code, is |
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amended by adding Sections 51.551, 51.552, and 51.553 to read as |
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follows: |
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Sec. 51.551. ANTI-TRAFFICKING ACTIVITIES. The department |
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is authorized to 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 efforts to |
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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 information under |
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Subsection (a) without the necessity of requesting a decision from |
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the attorney general under Subchapter G, Chapter 552, Government |
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Code. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |