BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.B. 1372
81R2959 GCB-F By: Shelton et al. (Van de Putte)
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Every year between 14,500 and 17,500 victims are trafficked into the United States from Asia, Central and South America, and Eastern Europe. Furthermore, a significant domestic component to human trafficking exists, whereby each year American citizens are forced into the sex and labor trade. Texas is a major corridor for human trafficking; nearly 20 percent of all human trafficking victims in the United States have been found in Texas.
The Texas Response to Human Trafficking report released by the Office of the Attorney General identifies protecting victims of human trafficking in Texas as a foremost goal for the 81st Legislature. The report expressly recommends that Chapter 56 (Rights of Crime Victims) of the Code of Civil Procedure be amended to include victims of human trafficking.
The purpose of this bill is to include human trafficking victims in the existing definition of "victim" under Article 56.01(3), Code of Criminal Procedure, which will allow victims of human trafficking to be eligible for benefits and protections under the Victims' Bill of Rights and the Crime Victims' Compensation Act.
H.B. 1372 amends current law relating to the definition of victim in relation to certain crime victims' rights.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Reenacts Article 56.01(3), Code of Criminal Procedure, as amended by Chapters 66 (H.B. 1489) and 268 (S.B. 6), Acts of the 79th Legislature, Regular Session, 2005, and amends it to redefine "victim."
SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2009.