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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of a human trafficking unit within |
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the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 411, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 411.02096 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 411.02096. HUMAN TRAFFICKING UNIT. (a) In this |
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section: |
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(1) "Human trafficking" means conduct that |
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constitutes an offense under Section 20A.02, Penal Code. |
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(2) "Unit" means the human trafficking unit |
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established by this section. |
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(b) A human trafficking unit is created within the |
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department to investigate and combat human trafficking. |
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(c) The unit shall collaborate with federal and local law |
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enforcement agencies and the office of the attorney general's human |
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trafficking prevention task force and transnational and organized |
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crime division, as applicable, to investigate human trafficking and |
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arrest persons determined to have engaged in human trafficking. |
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(d) The department, in consultation with the office of the |
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attorney general, shall develop and provide specialized training |
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for peace officers assigned to the unit. |
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(e) The unit may implement a public outreach campaign to |
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combat human trafficking and may accept gifts, grants, or donations |
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or work with a nonprofit organization for purposes of implementing |
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the campaign. |
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(f) If the unit implements a campaign under Subsection (e), |
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the unit shall collaborate with local law enforcement agencies, |
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school districts, and faith-based organizations and places of |
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worship to educate persons younger than 18 years of age concerning |
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the dangers associated with human trafficking. |
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(g) The legislature may appropriate funds to the department |
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from the fugitive apprehension account for purposes of implementing |
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this section. |
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(h) The department shall develop guidelines and protocols |
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designed to minimize intrusion on a person who has an encounter with |
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a peace officer performing a duty of the unit under this section. |
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(i) The department may adopt rules as necessary to implement |
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this section. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than September 1, 2018, the Department |
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of Public Safety of the State of Texas shall establish the human |
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trafficking unit under Section 411.02096, Government Code, as added |
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by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |