Bill Text: TX SB291 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to the establishment of a human trafficking unit within the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-02-07 - Referred to Criminal Justice [SB291 Detail]

Download: Texas-2019-SB291-Introduced.html

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86R1512 SMT-D
By: Lucio S.B. No. 291

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of a human trafficking 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 UNIT. (a) In this
section:
(1) "Human trafficking" means conduct that
constitutes an offense under Section 20A.02, Penal Code.
(2) "Unit" means the human trafficking unit
established by this section.
(b) A human trafficking unit is created within the
department to investigate and combat human trafficking.
(c) The unit shall collaborate with federal and local law
enforcement agencies to investigate human trafficking and arrest
persons determined to have engaged in human trafficking.
(d) The department shall provide specialized training for
peace officers assigned to the unit.
(e) The department shall develop guidelines and protocols
designed to minimize intrusion on a human trafficking victim who
has an encounter with a peace officer performing a duty of the unit
under this section.
(f) The department may adopt rules as necessary to implement
this section.
SECTION 2. Not later than September 1, 2020, the Department
of Public Safety of the State of Texas shall establish the human
trafficking unit under Section 411.02096, Government Code, as added
by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.