BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center	S.B. 1593
86R11145 AAF-D	By: Rodr�guez
	Transportation
	4/11/2019
	As Filed

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

In 2017, the Texas Legislature passed S.B. 128, which required commercial driver's license applicants to have completed a course on the recognition and prevention of human trafficking prior to obtaining their license and ensured that information was also included in the curriculum of commercial driver's license training programs offered by public junior colleges and career schools. S.B. 128 was supported by a diverse group of stakeholders including advocacy organizations such as Truckers Against Trafficking, Children at Risk, United Against Human Trafficking, and the Texas Truckers Association, as well as the Office of the Attorney General (OAG).

 

During the interim, the Senate Committee on Transportation included a recommendation in their Interim Report to the 86th Legislature that stated S.B. 128 was a step in the right direction, and it would be beneficial if other agencies required their employees to take an optional course regarding human trafficking and human smuggling. For example, the interim report suggested employees of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), as the agency is closely involved with multiple stakeholders across all 254 counties that are involved with the transport and delivery of goods.

 

Accordingly, S.B. 1593 directs TxDOT to develop a training course on the recognition and prevention of human smuggling and trafficking and make it available to their employees. S.B. 1593 also requires TxDOT to consult with the Office of the Attorney General in the development of the content of the training.

 

As proposed, S.B. 1593 amends current law relating to training by the Texas Department of Transportation on the recognition and prevention of smuggling and trafficking of persons.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

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

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter F, Chapter 201, Transportation Code, by adding Section 201.407, as follows:

 

Sec. 201.407. TRAINING ON SMUGGLING AND TRAFFICKING OF PERSONS. (a) Requires the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to develop and make available to employees of TxDOT a training course on the recognition and prevention of smuggling and trafficking of persons.

 

(b) Requires TxDOT, in collaboration with the Office of the Attorney General, to establish the content of the training developed under Subsection (a).

 

(c) Requires TxDOT, on the date an employee begins employment with TxDOT, to provide notice to the employee of the availability of the training developed under Subsection (a).

 

 

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2019.