86R14304 TSS-D
By: Parker H.B. No. 3154
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of a human trafficking and child
pornography 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 AND CHILD PORNOGRAPHY
UNIT. (a) In this section:
(1) "Child pornography" means conduct that
constitutes an offense under Section 43.26, Penal Code.
(2) "Human trafficking" means conduct that
constitutes an offense under Section 20A.02, Penal Code.
(3) "Unit" means the human trafficking and child
pornography unit established by this section.
(b) A human trafficking and child pornography unit is
created within the department to investigate and combat human
trafficking and child pornography.
(c) The unit shall collaborate with federal and local law
enforcement agencies to investigate human trafficking and child
pornography and arrest persons determined to have engaged in human
trafficking or child pornography.
(d) The department may adopt rules as necessary to implement
this section.
(e) The director may transfer the resources dedicated to the
unit to other programs within the department if the director
determines that incidents of human trafficking and child
pornography have decreased throughout the state to such an extent
that the resources would better serve the interests of public
safety if otherwise employed. The director shall notify the
legislature at least 180 days before making the transfer under this
subsection.
SECTION 2. Not later than September 1, 2020, the Department
of Public Safety of the State of Texas shall establish the human
trafficking and child pornography unit under Section 411.02096,
Government Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.