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 outlines the center's powers and duties, including collaboration with various entities to develop strategies for combating human trafficking, maintaining confidentiality of sensitive information, and providing annual reports on operations and human trafficking statistics. The department is authorized to solicit funding through gifts and grants, with specific restrictions on sources. A workgroup may also be established to provide input on the center's administration, which will be dissolved by December 1, 2026. The bill is set to take effect immediately upon receiving a two-thirds vote or on September 1, 2025, if not.
Statutes affected: Introduced: ()