relating to human trafficking prevention, including training for
first responders, disclosure of human trafficking information by
certain health care facilities, and protection for facility
employees who report human trafficking.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle A, Title 9, Health and Safety Code, is
amended by adding Chapter 763 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 763. HUMAN TRAFFICKING PREVENTION TRAINING
SUBCHAPTER A. TRAINING FOR FIRST RESPONDERS
Sec. 763.001. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1)"Commission" means the Health and Human Services
Commission.
(2)"Executive commissioner" means the executive
commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission.
(3)"First responder" means a public safety employee
whose duties include responding rapidly to an emergency. The term:
(A) includes:
(i)fire protection personnel, as defined
by Section 419.021, Government Code; and
(ii)emergency medical services personnel,
as defined by Section 773.003; and
(B) does not include:
(i)volunteer emergency services
personnel;
(ii)an emergency medical services
volunteer, as defined by Section 773.003; or
(iii)a peace officer or reserve law
enforcement officer, as those terms are defined by Section
1701.001, Occupations Code, who is performing law enforcement
duties.
(4)"Human trafficking" means conduct that
constitutes an offense under Section 20A.02, Penal Code.
Sec.763.002.REQUIRED HUMAN TRAFFICKING TRAINING. A first
responder, within the time prescribed by commission rule, shall
successfully complete a training course approved by the executive
commissioner on identifying, assisting, and reporting victims of
human trafficking.
Sec.763.003.TRAINING COURSE APPROVAL. (a) The executive
commissioner shall:
(1)approve training courses on human trafficking
prevention, including at least one course available without charge;
and
(2)post a list of the approved training courses on the
commission's Internet website.
(b)The executive commissioner shall update the list of
approved training courses described by Subsection (a) as necessary
and consider for approval training courses conducted by health care
facilities.
SECTION 2. Section 241.011, Health and Safety Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 241.011. HUMAN TRAFFICKING SIGNS REQUIRED. (a) An
emergency department of a hospital shall display a sign, at least 11
inches by 17 inches in size, written in at least a 16-point font and
in the form prescribed by the attorney general, that includes:
(1) the following statements:
(A)"All health care practitioners and first
responders are required to receive human trafficking prevention
training."; and
(B)"A hospital employee may not be disciplined,
retaliated against, or otherwise discriminated against for
reporting in good faith a suspected act of human trafficking.";
(2)information on recognizing and reporting human
trafficking and a list of human trafficking indicators;
(3)a phone number the attorney general designates for
reporting a suspected act of human trafficking; and
(4)contact information for reporting suspicious
activity to the Department of Public Safety.
Statutes affected: Introduced: Health and Safety Code 241.011, Subchapter A, Chapter , Health and Safety Code 245.025 (Health and Safety Code 241, Subchapter A, Chapter , Health and Safety Code 245)