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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to state contract limitations and programs for sex |
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trafficking prevention and victim treatment. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 2155.077, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (a-3) to read as follows: |
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(a-3) The comptroller shall bar a vendor from participating |
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in state contracts that are subject to this subtitle, including |
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contracts for which purchasing authority is delegated to a state |
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agency, if the vendor has taken an action that directly supports or |
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promotes human trafficking. |
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SECTION 2. Subtitle B, Title 2, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended by adding Chapter 50 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 50. SEX TRAFFICKING PREVENTION AND VICTIM TREATMENT |
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PROGRAMS |
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SUBCHAPTER A. TREATMENT PROGRAM FOR VICTIMS OF CHILD SEX |
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TRAFFICKING |
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Sec. 50.0001. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Child sex trafficking" has the meaning assigned |
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by Section 772.0062, Government Code. |
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(2) "Program" means the treatment program for victims |
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of child sex trafficking established under this subchapter. |
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Sec. 50.0002. ESTABLISHMENT; PURPOSE. The commission, in |
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collaboration with the institution designated under Section |
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50.0003 and the Child Sex Trafficking Prevention Unit established |
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under Section 772.0062, Government Code, shall establish a program |
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to improve the quality and accessibility of care for victims of |
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child sex trafficking in this state. |
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Sec. 50.0003. DESIGNATION OF INSTITUTION; OPERATION OF |
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PROGRAM. (a) The commission shall designate a health-related |
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institution of higher education to operate the program. |
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(b) The designated institution shall improve the quality |
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and accessibility of care for victims of child sex trafficking by: |
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(1) dedicating a unit at the institution to provide or |
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contract for inpatient care for victims of child sex trafficking; |
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(2) dedicating a unit at the institution to provide or |
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contract for outpatient care for victims of child sex trafficking; |
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(3) creating opportunities for research and workforce |
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expansion related to treatment of victims of child sex trafficking; |
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and |
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(4) assisting other health-related institutions of |
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higher education in this state to establish similar programs. |
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Sec. 50.0004. FUNDING. In addition to money appropriated |
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by the legislature, the designated institution may accept gifts, |
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grants, and donations from any public or private person for the |
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purpose of carrying out the program. |
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Sec. 50.0005. RULES. The executive commissioner shall |
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adopt rules necessary to implement this subchapter. |
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SUBCHAPTER B. MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM FOR MUNICIPAL SEX TRAFFICKING |
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PREVENTION PROGRAMS |
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Sec. 50.0051. ESTABLISHMENT OF MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM. The |
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commission shall establish and administer a matching grant program |
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that awards grants to provide initial money to establish municipal |
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sex trafficking prevention programs in this state. |
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Sec. 50.0052. APPLICATION. (a) A municipality may apply to |
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the commission in the form and manner prescribed by the commission |
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for a matching grant under this subchapter for the municipality's |
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sex trafficking prevention program. To qualify for a grant, an |
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applicant must: |
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(1) develop a media campaign and appoint a municipal |
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employee to oversee the program; |
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(2) provide proof that the applicant is able to obtain |
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or secure municipal money in an amount at least equal to the amount |
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of the awarded grant; and |
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(3) in collaboration with a local institution of |
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higher education, create and submit a needs assessment that |
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outlines: |
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(A) the prevalence of sex trafficking crimes in |
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the municipality; |
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(B) strategies for reducing the number of sex |
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trafficking crimes in the municipality; and |
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(C) the program's need for state funding to |
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supplement the municipal funding. |
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(b) The commission shall review applications for a matching |
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grant submitted under this section and award matching grants to |
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each municipality that demonstrates in the application the most |
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effective strategies for reducing the number of sex trafficking |
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crimes in the municipality and the greatest need for state funding. |
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(c) The commission may provide a grant under Subsection (b) |
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only in accordance with a contract between the commission and the |
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municipality. The contract must include provisions under which the |
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commission is granted sufficient control to ensure the public |
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purpose of sex trafficking prevention is accomplished and the state |
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receives the return benefit. |
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Sec. 50.0053. FUNDING. In addition to money appropriated |
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by the legislature, the commission may solicit and accept gifts, |
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grants, or donations from any source to administer and finance the |
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matching grant program established under this subchapter. |
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SUBCHAPTER C. SEX TRAFFICKING PREVENTION GRANT PROGRAM FOR LOCAL |
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LAW ENFORCEMENT |
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Sec. 50.0101. ESTABLISHMENT OF GRANT PROGRAM. (a) The |
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office of the governor, in collaboration with the Child Sex |
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Trafficking Prevention Unit established under Section 772.0062, |
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Government Code, shall establish and administer a grant program |
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that awards grants to local law enforcement agencies to train local |
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law enforcement officers to recognize signs of sex trafficking. |
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(b) A local law enforcement agency may apply to the office |
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of the governor in the form and manner prescribed by the office for |
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a grant under this section. |
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(c) The office of the governor may provide a grant under |
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Subsection (b) only in accordance with a contract between the |
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office and the local law enforcement agency. The contract must |
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include provisions under which the office is granted sufficient |
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control to ensure the public purpose of sex trafficking prevention |
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is accomplished and the state receives the return benefit. |
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Sec. 50.0102. FUNDING. In addition to money appropriated |
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by the legislature, the office of the governor may solicit and |
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accept gifts, grants, or donations from any source to administer |
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and finance the grant program established under this subchapter. |
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SECTION 3. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act: |
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(1) the executive commissioner of the Health and Human |
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Services Commission shall adopt rules as necessary to implement |
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Subchapters A and B, Chapter 50, Health and Safety Code, as added by |
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this Act; and |
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(2) the governor shall adopt rules as necessary to |
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implement Subchapter C, Chapter 50, Health and Safety Code, as |
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added by this Act. |
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SECTION 4. Section 2155.077, Government Code, as amended by |
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this Act, applies only to a contract entered into on or after the |
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effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |