BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1593

By: Rodríguez

Transportation

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Recently enacted legislation sought to continue efforts to curb human trafficking in Texas by requiring commercial driver's license applicants to complete a course on the recognition and prevention of human trafficking prior to obtaining their license and providing for the inclusion of such information in the curriculum of commercial driver's license training programs offered by public junior colleges and career schools. There have been calls to provide a similar training course to employees of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). S.B. 1593 seeks to address this issue by requiring TxDOT to develop a training course on the recognition and prevention of smuggling and trafficking of persons.

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 this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 1593 amends the Transportation Code to require the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to develop and make available to TxDOT employees a training course on the recognition and prevention of smuggling and trafficking of persons. The bill requires TxDOT to establish the content of the training in collaboration with the office of the attorney general. The bill requires TxDOT, on the date an employee begins employment with TxDOT, to provide notice to the employee of the availability of the training.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.