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House Bill 418 |
House Author: Wu et al. |
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Effective: 9-1-15 |
Senate Sponsor: Huffman |
House Bill 418 amends the Human Resources Code to establish provisions authorizing the commissioners court of a county or governing body of a municipality to contract with a child-placing agency to verify a secure agency foster home or secure agency foster group home for children who are victims of trafficking. The bill amends the Family Code to authorize a court to order a child who is the subject of a hearing in a child protection suit to be placed in a verified secure agency foster home or secure agency foster group home if the court finds that the child's physical health or safety is in danger because the child is a victim of trafficking and the placement is in the best interest of the child. The bill includes the fact that a child has been a victim of sex trafficking among the circumstances under which an authorized representative or officer may take possession of the child without obtaining a temporary restraining order or attachment and under which a court is not required to order the return of a child taken into possession without a court order.