The bill would amend the Human Resources Code relating to requiring trauma-informed care training for certain staff of county and state juvenile facilities. The bill would also amend the Human Resources Code relating to the development of best practices for early identification of juveniles who are victims of sex trafficking. The process would involve an evaluation and screening of procedures used by juvenile probation departments.  The bill would amend the Government Code to direct the Texas Crime Stoppers Council to create a program that encourages individuals to report criminal activity related to the trafficking of persons and financially rewards those persons if the report substantially contributes to an arrest or apprehension.

It is assumed that implementing the provisions of the bill can be absorbed within existing resources. The bill would take effect on September 1, 2013.

There may be some increased workload to local governments working with the Texas Juvenile Justice Department to complete the evaluation related to early identification of juveniles who are victims of sex trafficking; however, it is assumed that fiscal impact, if any, would not be significant.