BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

H.B. 292

By: Thompson, Senfronia

Homeland Security & Public Safety

Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

It has been suggested that the state should do more to ensure that training provided to law enforcement officers includes instruction on the trafficking of persons to better equip officers to handle a human trafficking situation. H.B. 292 seeks to include instruction on this matter in the basic training curriculum for peace officers and reserve law enforcement officers.

 

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.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement in SECTIONS 1 and 2 of this bill.

 

ANALYSIS

 

H.B. 292 amends the Occupations Code to require the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE), as part of the minimum curriculum requirements for law enforcement training programs and schools, to require a peace officer or reserve law enforcement officer to complete the basic education and training program on the trafficking of persons developed by TCOLE. The bill requires such an officer to complete the training program not later than the second anniversary of the date the officer is licensed by TCOLE, unless the officer completes the program as part of the officer's basic training course, and removes language limiting the officers whom TCOLE must require by rule to complete a one-time basic education and training program on the trafficking of persons to an officer first licensed by TCOLE on or after January 1, 2011. The bill requires TCOLE, not later than December 1, 2019, to adopt the rules necessary to implement the bill's provisions.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

September 1, 2019.