AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
The 81st Legislature created the human trafficking prevention task force in an effort to foster a statewide partnership between law enforcement agencies, social service providers, nongovernmental organizations, legal representatives, and stage agencies that fight against human trafficking. The task force works to develop policies and procedures to assist in the prevention and prosecution of human trafficking crimes and to propose legislative recommendations that better protect both adult and child victims. H.B. 1272 seeks to allow the task force to further its efforts by continuing the task force for another two years and expanding the task force's duties.
H.B. 1272 amends current law relating to the continuation and duties of the Human Trafficking Prevention Task Force.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 402.035, Government Code, by amending Subsections (d) and (h) and adding Subsection (g-1), as follows:
(d) Requires the Human Trafficking Prevention Task Force (task force) to fulfill certain duties, including collaborating, as needed to fulfill the duties of the task force, with certain entities, including United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, rather than the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency; and work with the Texas Education Agency, the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), and the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to develop a list of key indicators that a person is a victim of human trafficking, develop a standardized curriculum for training doctors, nurses, emergency medical services personnel, teachers, school counselors, school administrators, and personnel from DFPS to identify and assist victims of human trafficking, develop and conduct training for personnel from DFPS and HHSC on methods for identifying children in foster care who may be at risk of becoming victims of human trafficking, and develop a process for referring identified human trafficking victims and individuals at risk of becoming victims to appropriate entities for services. Makes nonsubstantive changes.
(g-1) Defines "emergency medical services personnel" in this section.
(h) Provides that this section (Human Trafficking Prevention Task Force) expires September 1, 2015, rather than September 1, 2013.
SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2013.