S.B. No. 389 proposes the establishment of the Anti-Human-Trafficking Intelligence Center within the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, as outlined in the newly added Chapter 1705 to the Occupations Code. The center's primary functions will include coordinating law enforcement and governmental responses to human trafficking, enhancing detection and prevention efforts, and serving as a centralized information hub. The bill mandates the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation to adopt necessary rules for implementation and allows the department to enter into operational agreements with various agencies, including the appointment of a chief intelligence coordinator to oversee the center's activities.
Additionally, the bill stipulates that all information collected by the center will be confidential and not subject to public disclosure, ensuring the protection of anti-trafficking victim identifiers. The chief intelligence coordinator is required to submit an annual report detailing the center's operations, human trafficking statistics, and funding needs. The department is also authorized to solicit donations to support the center's initiatives, with specific restrictions on accepting funds from licensed individuals. The bill outlines a timeline for the adoption of rules and the potential establishment of a stakeholder workgroup to provide input on the center's administration, with provisions for the workgroup's dissolution by December 1, 2026.
Statutes affected: Introduced: ()