By: Thompson, et al. H.B. No. 451
(Senate Sponsor - Paxton, et al.)
(In the Senate - Received from the House April 16, 2025;
April 23, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Health &
Human Services; May 7, 2025, reported adversely, with favorable
Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 9, Nays 0;
May 7, 2025, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 451 By: Perry
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a screening for the risk of commercial sexual
exploitation of certain children.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 266.012(a), Family Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) Not later than the 45th day after the date a child enters
the conservatorship of the department, the child shall receive:
(1) a developmentally appropriate comprehensive
assessment that includes [. The assessment must include]:
(A) [(1)] a screening for trauma; and
(B) [(2)] interviews with individuals who have
knowledge of the child's needs; and
(2) a screening for risk of commercial sexual
exploitation using a validated, evidenced-informed tool selected
by the Child Sex Trafficking Prevention Unit established under
Section 772.0062, Government Code, if:
(A) validation guidelines based on the child's
age indicate the screening is appropriate; or
(B) concerns of commercial sexual exploitation
exist.
SECTION 2. Section 221.003(b), Human Resources Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(b) A juvenile probation department must, before the
disposition of a child's case and using a validated risk and needs
assessment instrument or process provided or approved by the
department, complete a risk and needs assessment for each child
under the jurisdiction of the juvenile probation department. The
risk and needs assessment must include a screening for risk of
commercial sexual exploitation using a validated,
evidence-informed tool selected by the Child Sex Trafficking
Prevention Unit established under Section 772.0062, Government
Code.
SECTION 3. The Department of Family and Protective Services
and the Texas Juvenile Justice Department are required to implement
a provision of this Act only if the legislature appropriates money
to the respective department specifically for that purpose. If the
legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that
purpose, the Department of Family and Protective Services and the
Texas Juvenile Justice Department may, but are not required to,
implement a provision of this Act using other money available for
that purpose.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
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