Parker’s human trafficking bill for health care facilities

The text as introduced · 719 words

89R2683 MCF-F

By: Parker
S.B. No. 1828

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to human trafficking prevention, including training for

medical assistants, 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 G, Title 4, Health and Safety Code, is

amended by adding Chapter 328 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 328. HUMAN TRAFFICKING PREVENTION IN CERTAIN FACILITIES

Sec. 328.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Facility" has the meaning assigned by Section

31.002.

(2) "Medical assistant" has the meaning assigned by

Section 763.001.

Sec. 328.002. HUMAN TRAFFICKING SIGNS REQUIRED. (a) A

facility 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 medical

assistants are required to receive human trafficking prevention

training."; and

(B) "An 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 or a violation of

this chapter; and

(4) contact information for reporting suspicious

activity to the Department of Public Safety.

(b) The sign described by Subsection (a) must be posted:

(1) in a location easily visible to all facility

employees; and

(2) separately in English, Spanish, and any other

primary language spoken by 10 percent or more of the facility's

employees.

Sec. 328.003. DISCRIMINATION AND RETALIATION PROHIBITED. A

facility may not discipline, retaliate against, or otherwise

discriminate against a facility employee who in good faith reports

a suspected act of human trafficking to the facility, a law

enforcement agency, the National Human Trafficking Resource

Center, the attorney general, or another appropriate authority.

SECTION 2. 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 MEDICAL ASSISTANTS

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) "Human trafficking" means conduct that

constitutes an offense under Section 20A.02, Penal Code.

(4) "Medical assistant" means an individual who, under

the supervision of a physician, assists with patient care

management, executes administrative duties, and performs clinical

procedures, including:

(A) conducting aseptic procedures;

(B) obtaining vital signs;

(C) preparing patients for the physician's care;

(D) performing venipunctures and non-intravenous

injections;

(E) observing and reporting patients' symptoms;

(F) administering basic first aid;

(G) assisting with patient examinations or

treatments;

(H) operating office medical equipment;

(I) collecting routine laboratory specimens, as

directed by the physician;

(J) administering medication, as directed by the

physician;

(K) performing basic laboratory procedures; and

(L) performing dialysis procedures, including

home dialysis.

Sec. 763.002. REQUIRED HUMAN TRAFFICKING TRAINING. A

medical assistant, 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 3. As soon as practicable after the effective date

of this Act, the attorney general shall design the sign required by

Section 328.002, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 4. As soon as practicable after the effective date

of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human

Services Commission shall approve and post on the commission's

Internet website the list of approved human trafficking prevention

training courses and adopt rules necessary to implement Subchapter

A, Chapter 763, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.