By: Thompson, et al. H.B. No. 451

(Senate Sponsor - Paxton, et al.)

(In the Senate - Received from the House April 16, 2025; April 23, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Health & Human Services; May 7, 2025, reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 9, Nays 0; May 7, 2025, sent to printer.) Click here to see the committee vote

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 451 By: Perry

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a screening for the risk of commercial sexual exploitation of certain children.

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

SECTION 1. Section 266.012(a), Family Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) Not later than the 45th day after the date a child enters the conservatorship of the department, the child shall receive:

(1) a developmentally appropriate comprehensive assessment that includes [. The assessment must include]:

(A) [(1)] a screening for trauma; and

(B) [(2)] interviews with individuals who have knowledge of the child's needs; and

(2) a screening for risk of commercial sexual exploitation using a validated, evidenced-informed tool selected by the Child Sex Trafficking Prevention Unit established under Section 772.0062, Government Code, if:

(A) validation guidelines based on the child's age indicate the screening is appropriate; or

(B) concerns of commercial sexual exploitation exist.

SECTION 2. Section 221.003(b), Human Resources Code, is amended to read as follows:

(b) A juvenile probation department must, before the disposition of a child's case and using a validated risk and needs assessment instrument or process provided or approved by the department, complete a risk and needs assessment for each child under the jurisdiction of the juvenile probation department. The risk and needs assessment must include a screening for risk of commercial sexual exploitation using a validated, evidence-informed tool selected by the Child Sex Trafficking Prevention Unit established under Section 772.0062, Government Code.

SECTION 3. The Department of Family and Protective Services and the Texas Juvenile Justice Department are required to implement a provision of this Act only if the legislature appropriates money to the respective department specifically for that purpose. If the legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that purpose, the Department of Family and Protective Services and the Texas Juvenile Justice Department may, but are not required to, implement a provision of this Act using other money available for that purpose.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

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