85R12809 SMT-D
 
  By: Lucio S.B. No. 1859
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the establishment of a human trafficking unit within
  the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 411, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 411.02096 to read as follows:
         Sec. 411.02096.  HUMAN TRAFFICKING UNIT. (a) In this
  section:
               (1)  "Human trafficking" means conduct that
  constitutes an offense under Section 20A.02, Penal Code.
               (2)  "Unit" means the human trafficking unit
  established by this section.
         (b)  A human trafficking unit is created within the
  department to investigate and combat human trafficking.
         (c)  The unit shall collaborate with federal and local law
  enforcement agencies and the office of the attorney general's human
  trafficking prevention task force and transnational and organized
  crime division, as applicable, to investigate human trafficking and
  arrest persons determined to have engaged in human trafficking.
         (d)  The department, in consultation with the office of the
  attorney general, shall develop and provide specialized training
  for peace officers assigned to the unit.
         (e)  The unit may implement a public outreach campaign to
  combat human trafficking and may accept gifts, grants, or donations
  or work with a nonprofit organization for purposes of implementing
  the campaign.
         (f)  If the unit implements a campaign under Subsection (e),
  the unit shall collaborate with local law enforcement agencies,
  school districts, and faith-based organizations and places of
  worship to educate persons younger than 18 years of age concerning
  the dangers associated with human trafficking.
         (g)  The legislature may appropriate funds to the department
  from the fugitive apprehension account for purposes of implementing
  this section.
         (h)  The department shall develop guidelines and protocols
  designed to minimize intrusion on a person who has an encounter with
  a peace officer performing a duty of the unit under this section.
         (i)  The department may adopt rules as necessary to implement
  this section.
         SECTION 2.  Not later than September 1, 2018, the Department
  of Public Safety of the State of Texas shall establish the human
  trafficking unit under Section 411.02096, Government Code, as added
  by this Act.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.