89R19791 TYPED
 
  By: Hull H.B. No. 45
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the duty of the attorney general to prosecute human
  trafficking criminal offenses.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 402, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Subchapter D to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER D. PROSECUTION OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING OFFENSES
         Sec. 402.101.  APPLICABILITY. This subchapter applies to a
  criminal offense under Chapter 20A, Penal Code.
         Sec. 402.102.  PROVISION OF INFORMATION TO ATTORNEY GENERAL.
  (a) A law enforcement agency that submits to a local prosecuting
  attorney a report stating there is probable cause to believe an
  identified person has committed a criminal offense described by
  Section 402.101 shall simultaneously submit a copy of that report
  to the attorney general.
         (b)  On request of the attorney general, a local prosecuting
  attorney or law enforcement agency shall provide information
  regarding investigations of criminal offenses described by Section
  402.101 to assist the attorney general in performing duties
  required under this subchapter.
         Sec. 402.103.  PROSECUTION. Notwithstanding any other law,
  the attorney general has jurisdiction to prosecute and shall
  prosecute a criminal offense described by Section 402.101 if:
               (1)  a law enforcement agency submits a report
  described by Section 402.102(a) to the local prosecuting attorney
  and the attorney general; and
               (2)  six months have elapsed from the date the report
  was submitted and the local prosecuting attorney has not initiated
  proceedings to prosecute the offense.
         SECTION 2.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
  an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. An
  offense committed before the effective date of this Act is governed
  by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed, and the
  former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For purposes of
  this section, an offense was committed before the effective date of
  this Act if any element of the offense occurred before that date.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.