SB1829 - 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.

  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.