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.
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.
