BILL ANALYSIS |
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C.S.H.B. 2511 |
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By: Thompson, Senfronia |
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State Affairs |
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Committee Report (Substituted) |
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BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Officials across the United States have identified more than 100 goods produced globally through child labor and forced labor. Concerned parties assert that such labor taints the supply chains of goods produced and consumed in Texas and that businesses should be proactive in ensuring that labor trafficking, either domestically or abroad, does not corrupt the production of goods. It has also been observed that businesses can play a role in addressing sex trafficking as well, as entities that unintentionally serve as venues for and profit from the activities of sex traffickers can take steps to promote awareness and training to reduce incidents of this criminal activity on premises. In order to promote voluntary efforts to fight human trafficking crimes by the business community, C.S.H.B. 2511 seeks to create a human trafficking business partnership program in the office of the secretary of state.
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CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
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RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the secretary of state in SECTION 1 of this bill.
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ANALYSIS
C.S.H.B. 2511 amends the Government Code to require the secretary of state, by rule, to establish and implement a program designated as the human trafficking prevention business partnership to engage participating corporations and other private entities in voluntary efforts to prevent and combat human trafficking. The bill requires the secretary of state to present a certificate of recognition to a participating corporation or private entity to recognize the corporation's or entity's contributions to the efforts of federal, state, and local officials engaged in combating human trafficking and prosecuting human trafficking crimes. The bill requires a participating corporation or other participating private entity to adopt a zero-tolerance policy toward human trafficking, to take measures to ensure that the corporation or entity's employees comply with the zero-tolerance policy, to participate in public awareness and education campaigns, to enhance awareness of and encourage participation in the partnership, and to share with the secretary of state best practices that are effective in combating human trafficking. The bill requires the secretary of state to work collaboratively with other state agencies to promote the partnership and authorizes the secretary of state to use private and philanthropic resources to support the work of the partnership. The bill requires the secretary of state to establish the partnership program not later than December 1, 2015.
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EFFECTIVE DATE
On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2015.
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COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE
While C.S.H.B. 2511 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and formatted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.
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