Parker’s human trafficking training bill for first responders

The text as introduced · 979 words

89R2674 MCF-F

By: Parker
S.B. No. 1829

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

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.

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

(1) in a location easily visible to all hospital

employees; and

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

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

employees [ separate signs, in English and Spanish, that comply with

Section 245.025 as if the hospital is an abortion facility ].

SECTION 3. Subchapter A, Chapter 241, Health and Safety

Code, is amended by adding Section 241.0115 to read as follows:

Sec. 241.0115. DISCRIMINATION AND RETALIATION PROHIBITED.

A hospital may not discipline, retaliate against, or otherwise

discriminate against a hospital employee who in good faith reports

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

enforcement agency, the National Human Trafficking Resource

Center, the attorney general, or any other appropriate authority.

SECTION 4. Subchapter D, Chapter 254, Health and Safety

Code, is amended by adding Sections 254.161 and 254.162 to read as

follows:

Sec. 254.161. HUMAN TRAFFICKING SIGNS REQUIRED. (a) A

freestanding emergency medical care 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 first

responders are required to receive human trafficking prevention

training."; and

(B) "A freestanding emergency medical care

facility 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.

(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. 254.162. DISCRIMINATION AND RETALIATION PROHIBITED. A

freestanding emergency medical care 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 any

other appropriate authority.

SECTION 5. 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 6. As soon as practicable after the effective date

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

Section 241.011, Health and Safety Code, as amended by this Act, and

Section 254.161, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.