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BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

H.B. 2725

By: Thompson, Senfronia

Government Efficiency & Reform

Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Concerned parties contend that one of the most pressing needs for victims of human trafficking is proper housing where such victims can receive needed immediate care and treatment but that organizations that want to provide facilities for victims face many problems, including inadequate funding, zoning restrictions, licensing requirements, and the lack of standardized procedures for serving victims, especially minors. There are no confidentiality safeguards for shelters that help victims of human trafficking. To address some of these obstacles to helping victims of human trafficking who are within the state's purview, H.B. 2725 seeks to protect certain records maintained by trafficking shelters from disclosure under state public information law and to provide for minimum standards of care for such shelters.  

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission in SECTION 4 of this bill.

 

ANALYSIS

 

H.B. 2725 amends the Government Code to expand the applicability of the exemption from disclosure requirements under state public information law for family violence shelter center and sexual assault program information to include information maintained by a victims of trafficking shelter center, defined as a program operated by a public or private nonprofit organization that provides comprehensive residential and nonresidential services to persons who are victims of trafficking.

 

H.B. 2725 amends the Human Resources Code to require the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission by rule to adopt minimum standards that apply to general residential operations that provide comprehensive residential and nonresidential services to persons who are victims of trafficking and, in adopting the minimum standards, to consider the special circumstances and needs of persons who are victims of trafficking and the role of the general residential operations in assisting and supporting those victims.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2013.