BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3407

By: Riddle

Corrections

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties contend that there have been efforts to implement procedures during the intake process to screen minors for possible involvement in human trafficking and that it is important to identify the victims of human trafficking for purposes of diversion programs.  H.B. 3407 seeks to require the Texas Juvenile Justice Department to develop best practices to share with local juvenile probation departments on methods to screen children for possible involvement in domestic minor sex trafficking.

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

H.B. 3407 amends the Human Resources Code to require the Texas Juvenile Justice Department to evaluate the practices and screening procedures used by juvenile probation departments for the early identification of juveniles who are victims of sex trafficking for the purpose of developing a recommended set of best practices that may be used by a juvenile probation department to improve the juvenile probation department's ability to identify a juvenile who is a victim of sex trafficking. The bill authorizes best practices to include examining a juvenile's referral history, including whether the juvenile has a history of running away from home or has been adjudicated for previous offenses; making inquiries into a juvenile's history of sexual abuse; assessing a juvenile's need for services, including counseling through a rape crisis center or other counseling; and asking the juvenile a series of questions designed to determine whether the juvenile is at high risk of being a victim of sex trafficking.

EFFECTIVE DATE

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