86R14304 TSS-D

By: Parker H.B. No. 3154

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the establishment of a human trafficking and child pornography unit within the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 411, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 411.02096 to read as follows:

Sec. 411.02096. HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND CHILD PORNOGRAPHY UNIT. (a) In this section:

(1) "Child pornography" means conduct that constitutes an offense under Section 43.26, Penal Code.

(2) "Human trafficking" means conduct that constitutes an offense under Section 20A.02, Penal Code.

(3) "Unit" means the human trafficking and child pornography unit established by this section.

(b) A human trafficking and child pornography unit is created within the department to investigate and combat human trafficking and child pornography.

(c) The unit shall collaborate with federal and local law enforcement agencies to investigate human trafficking and child pornography and arrest persons determined to have engaged in human trafficking or child pornography.

(d) The department may adopt rules as necessary to implement this section.

(e) The director may transfer the resources dedicated to the unit to other programs within the department if the director determines that incidents of human trafficking and child pornography have decreased throughout the state to such an extent that the resources would better serve the interests of public safety if otherwise employed. The director shall notify the legislature at least 180 days before making the transfer under this subsection.

SECTION 2. Not later than September 1, 2020, the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas shall establish the human trafficking and child pornography unit under Section 411.02096, Government Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.