By: Van de Putte S.B. No. 1288

(In the Senate - Filed March 6, 2007; March 19, 2007, read first time and referred to Committee on Criminal Justice; April 27, 2007, reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 5, Nays 0; April 27, 2007, sent to printer.)

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 1288 By: Carona

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to requiring certain defendants in common nuisance suits to provide telephone access to and information regarding an information and referral hotline for victims of human trafficking.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 125.002, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, is amended by adding Subsection (f-1) to read as follows:

(f-1) If the defendant required to execute the bond is a hotel, motel, or similar establishment that rents overnight lodging to the public and the alleged common nuisance is under Section 125.0015(a)(6) or (7), the bond must also be conditioned that the defendant will, in each of the defendant's lodging units on the premises that are the subject of the suit, post in a conspicuous place near the room rate information required to be posted under Section 2155.001, Occupations Code, an operating toll-free telephone number of a nationally recognized information and referral hotline for victims of human trafficking.

SECTION 2. Section 125.045, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, is amended by adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:

(a-1) If the defendant required to execute the bond is a hotel, motel, or similar establishment that rents overnight lodging to the public and the alleged common nuisance is under Section 125.0015(a)(6) or (7), the bond must also be conditioned that the defendant will, in each of the defendant's lodging units on the premises that are the subject of the suit, post in a conspicuous place near the room rate information required to be posted under Section 2155.001, Occupations Code, an operating toll-free telephone number of a nationally recognized information and referral hotline for victims of human trafficking.

SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies only to a suit filed on or after the effective date of this Act. A suit filed before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect immediately before that date, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2007.

* * * * *