BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

                                                                                                                                            S.B. 1287

                                                                                                                                By: Van de Putte

                                                                                             Licensing & Administrative Procedures

                                                                                                       Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Currently, there is no law requiring establishments to post a notification regarding the offense of human trafficking.  Texas is ranked second in the United States for the amount of human trafficking that occurs within its territory.  With 14,000 people being trafficked into the United States annually, Texas is a major hub for traffickers.  About 80 percent of trafficking victims are often forced into the sex-slave trade industry.  In many of these cases, young women and men are forced to act as "hostesses," "waiters," or "waitresses" in establishments that serve alcohol such as bars or entertainment clubs.  Furthermore, outreach services are widely unknown to victims of trafficking.    

 

S.B. 1287 requires certain establishments to post specific notification regarding the offense of human trafficking in both English and Spanish along with the number to the national human trafficking hotline. 

 

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

 

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 104, Alcoholic Beverage Code, by adding Section 104.07, as follows:

 

Sec. 104.07.  POSTING OF CERTAIN NOTICES REQUIRED.  (a)  Requires the holder of a permit or license under Chapter 25 (Wine and Beer Retailer's Permit), Chapter 26 (Wine and Beer Retailers Off-Premise Permit), Chapter 28 (Mixed Beverage Permit), Chapter 32 (Private Club Registration Permit), Chapter 69 (Retail Dealer's On-Premise License), or Chapter 71 (Retail Dealer's Off-Premise License), other than the holder of a food and beverage certificate to display a sign containing a notice in English and in Spanish regarding human trafficking and the national human trafficking hotline.  Sets forth the specific language of the notice.

 

(b)  Requires the sign to be at least 8-1/2 inches high and 11 inches wide and be displayed in a conspicuous manner clearly visible to the public and employees of the permit or license holder.  Requires the English notice to cover approximately two-thirds of the sign, and requires the Spanish notice to cover approximately one-third of the sign.

 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 2007.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

September 1, 2007.