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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the assessment of juveniles who are victims of sex |
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trafficking. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 221, Human Resources Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 221.0035 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 221.0035. BEST PRACTICES TO IDENTIFY AND ASSESS |
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VICTIMS OF SEX TRAFFICKING. (a) In this section, "sex trafficking" |
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means an offense under Section 20A.02(a)(7), Penal Code. |
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(b) The department shall evaluate the practices and |
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screening procedures used by juvenile probation departments for the |
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early identification of juveniles who are victims of sex |
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trafficking for the purpose of developing a recommended set of best |
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practices that may be used by a juvenile probation department to |
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improve the juvenile probation department's ability to identify a |
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juvenile who is a victim of sex trafficking. |
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(c) Best practices may include: |
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(1) examining a juvenile's referral history, including |
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whether the juvenile has a history of running away from home or has |
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been adjudicated for previous offenses; |
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(2) making inquiries into a juvenile's history of |
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sexual abuse; |
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(3) assessing a juvenile's need for services, |
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including counseling through a rape crisis center or other |
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counseling; and |
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(4) asking the juvenile a series of questions designed |
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to determine whether the juvenile is at high risk of being a victim |
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of sex trafficking. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |