By: Huffman S.R. No. 836

SENATE RESOLUTION

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the State of Texas, 86th Legislature, Regular Session, 2019, That Senate Rule 12.03 be suspended in part as provided by Senate Rule 12.08 to enable the conference committee appointed to resolve the differences on Senate Bill 20 (the prevention of, reporting regarding, investigation of, prosecution of, criminal and civil penalties for, and other consequences of prostitution, trafficking of persons, and related criminal offenses, to treatment, services, and compensation available to victims of those offenses, and to orders of nondisclosure for certain persons who are victims of certain of those offenses) to consider and take action on the following matter:

Senate Rule 12.03(4) is suspended to permit the committee to add text on a matter not included in either the house or senate version of the bill by adding the following new ARTICLES to the bill:

ARTICLE 5. SEX TRAFFICKING PREVENTION AND VICTIM TREATMENT

PROGRAMS

SECTION 5.01. Subtitle B, Title 2, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Chapter 50 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 50. SEX TRAFFICKING PREVENTION AND VICTIM TREATMENT

PROGRAMS

SUBCHAPTER A. TREATMENT PROGRAM FOR VICTIMS OF CHILD SEX

TRAFFICKING

Sec. 50.0001. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:

(1) "Child sex trafficking" has the meaning assigned by Section 772.0062, Government Code.

(2) "Program" means the treatment program for victims of child sex trafficking established under this subchapter.

Sec. 50.0002. ESTABLISHMENT; PURPOSE. The commission, in collaboration with the institution designated under Section 50.0003, shall establish a program to improve the quality and accessibility of care for victims of child sex trafficking in this state.

Sec. 50.0003. DESIGNATION OF INSTITUTION; OPERATION OF PROGRAM. (a) The commission shall designate a health-related institution of higher education to operate the program.

(b) The designated institution shall improve the quality and accessibility of care for victims of child sex trafficking by:

(1) dedicating a unit at the institution to provide or contract for inpatient care for victims of child sex trafficking;

(2) dedicating a unit at the institution to provide or contract for outpatient care for victims of child sex trafficking;

(3) creating opportunities for research and workforce expansion related to treatment of victims of child sex trafficking; and

(4) assisting other health-related institutions of higher education in this state to establish similar programs.

(c) The commission shall solicit and review applications from health-related institutions of higher education before designating an institution under this section.

Sec. 50.0004. FUNDING. In addition to money appropriated by the legislature, the designated institution may accept gifts, grants, and donations from any public or private person for the purpose of carrying out the program.

Sec. 50.0005. RULES. The executive commissioner shall adopt rules necessary to implement this subchapter.

SUBCHAPTER B. MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM FOR MUNICIPAL SEX

TRAFFICKING PREVENTION PROGRAMS

Sec. 50.0051. ESTABLISHMENT OF MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM. (a) The commission shall establish a matching grant program to award to a municipality a grant in an amount equal to the amount committed by the municipality for the development of a sex trafficking prevention needs assessment. A municipality that is awarded a grant must develop the needs assessment in collaboration with a local institution of higher education and on completion submit a copy of the needs assessment to the commission.

(b) A sex trafficking prevention needs assessment developed under Subsection (a) must outline:

(1) the prevalence of sex trafficking crimes in the municipality;

(2) strategies for reducing the number of sex trafficking crimes in the municipality; and

(3) the municipality's need for additional funding for sex trafficking prevention programs and initiatives.

Sec. 50.0052. APPLICATION. (a) A municipality may apply to the commission in the form and manner prescribed by the commission for a matching grant under this subchapter. To qualify for a grant, an applicant must:

(1) develop a media campaign and appoint a municipal employee to oversee the program; and

(2) provide proof that the applicant is able to obtain or secure municipal money in an amount at least equal to the amount of the awarded grant.

(b) The commission shall review applications for a matching grant submitted under this section and award matching grants to each municipality that demonstrates in the application the most effective strategies for reducing the number of sex trafficking crimes in the municipality and the greatest need for state funding.

(c) The commission may provide a grant under Subsection (b) only in accordance with a contract between the commission and the municipality. The contract must include provisions under which the commission is granted sufficient control to ensure the public purpose of sex trafficking prevention is accomplished and the state receives the return benefit.

Sec. 50.0053. FUNDING. In addition to money appropriated by the legislature, the commission may solicit and accept gifts, grants, or donations from any source to administer and finance the matching grant program established under this subchapter.

SUBCHAPTER C. SEX TRAFFICKING PREVENTION GRANT PROGRAM FOR LOCAL

LAW ENFORCEMENT

Sec. 50.0101. ESTABLISHMENT OF GRANT PROGRAM. (a) The office of the governor, in collaboration with the Child Sex Trafficking Prevention Unit established under Section 772.0062, Government Code, shall establish and administer a grant program to train local law enforcement officers to recognize signs of sex trafficking.

(b) The office of the governor may establish eligibility criteria for a grant applicant.

(c) A grant awarded under this section must include provisions under which the office of the governor is provided sufficient control to ensure the public purpose of sex trafficking prevention is accomplished and the state receives the return benefit.

Sec. 50.0102. FUNDING. In addition to money appropriated by the legislature, the office of the governor may solicit and accept gifts, grants, or donations from any source to administer and finance the grant program established under this subchapter.

SECTION 5.02. As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act:

(1) the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall adopt rules as necessary to implement Subchapters A and B, Chapter 50, Health and Safety Code, as added by this article; and

(2) the governor shall adopt rules as necessary to implement Subchapter C, Chapter 50, Health and Safety Code, as added by this article.

SECTION 5.03. A state agency is required to implement a provision of this article only if the legislature appropriates money to the agency specifically for the purpose of implementing the applicable provision. If the legislature does not appropriate money specifically for the purpose of implementing the applicable provision, the agency may, but is not required to, implement the provision using other appropriations available for that purpose.

ARTICLE 6. PROHIBITION ON CERTAIN BIDS AND CONTRACTS RELATED TO

PERSONS INVOLVED IN HUMAN TRAFFICKING

SECTION 6.01. Subchapter A, Chapter 2155, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 2155.0061 to read as follows:

Sec. 2155.0061. PROHIBITION ON CERTAIN BIDS AND CONTRACTS RELATED TO PERSONS INVOLVED IN HUMAN TRAFFICKING. (a) A state agency may not accept a bid or award a contract, including a contract for which purchasing authority is delegated to a state agency, that includes proposed financial participation by a person who, during the five-year period preceding the date of the bid or award, has been convicted of any offense related to the direct support or promotion of human trafficking.

(b) A bid or award subject to the requirements of this section must include the following statement:

"Under Section 2155.0061, Government Code, the vendor certifies that the individual or business entity named in this bid or contract is not ineligible to receive the specified contract and acknowledges that this contract may be terminated and payment withheld if this certification is inaccurate."

(c) If a state agency determines that an individual or business entity holding a state contract was ineligible to have the bid accepted or contract awarded under this section, the state agency may immediately terminate the contract without further obligation to the vendor.

(d) This section does not create a cause of action to contest a bid or award of a state contract.

SECTION 6.02. Section 2155.077(a-1), Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a-1) The commission shall bar a vendor from participating in state contracts that are subject to this subtitle, including contracts for which purchasing authority is delegated to a state agency, if the vendor has been:

(1) convicted of violating a federal law in connection with a contract awarded by the federal government for relief, recovery, or reconstruction efforts as a result of Hurricane Rita, as defined by Section 39.459, Utilities Code, Hurricane Katrina, or any other disaster occurring after September 24, 2005; [or]

(2) assessed a penalty in a federal civil or administrative enforcement action in connection with a contract awarded by the federal government for relief, recovery, or reconstruction efforts as a result of Hurricane Rita, as defined by Section 39.459, Utilities Code, Hurricane Katrina, or any other disaster occurring after September 24, 2005; or

(3) convicted of any offense related to the direct support or promotion of human trafficking.

SECTION 6.03. Section 2155.0061, Government Code, as added by this article, applies only in relation to a state contract for which the request for bids or proposals or other applicable expressions of interest are made public on or after the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 6.04. Section 2155.077, Government Code, as amended by this article, applies only to a contract entered into on or after the effective date of this Act.

Explanation: The addition is necessary to add programs for sex trafficking prevention and sex trafficking victim treatment and to prohibit certain bids and contracts related to persons involved in human trafficking.