Texas § GV.402.0352 - REPORTING OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING CASES

§ GV.402.0352. REPORTING OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING CASES

REPORTING OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING CASES. (a) This section applies only to: (1) a municipal police department, sheriff's department, or constable's office in a county with a population of more than 50,000; (2) the Department of Family and Protective Services; (3) the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation; (4) the Office of Court Administration of the Texas Judicial System; (5) the Texas Department of Criminal Justice; (6) the Texas Juvenile Justice Department; (7) the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission; and (8) the Department of Public Safety. (b) An entity to which this section applies that investigates or collects data regarding the alleged commission of an offense under Chapter 20A , Penal Code, or the alleged commission of an offense under Chapter 21 , 22 , or 43 , Penal Code, that may involve human trafficking, shall submit to the attorney general in the manner and form prescribed by the attorney general a report containing the following information: (1) the offense being investigated or for which data is being collected, including the offense code designated by the Department of Public Safety under Article 66.052 , Code of Criminal Procedure; (2) regarding each person suspected of committing the offense: (A) the person's: (i) full name; (ii) gender; (iii) race or ethnicity, as defined by Article 2B.0051 , Code of Criminal Procedure; (iv) country of origin, if the person is not a United States citizen or legal permanent resident; (v) date of birth; and (vi) age at the time of the offense, if available; and (B) the case number associated with the person and the offense; (3) the date and location of the alleged offense, including the city and county; (4) the disposition of the investigation, if any, regardless of the manner of disposition; and (5) regarding the victim of the offense: (A) the victim's: (i) age at the time of the offense, if available; (ii) gender; (iii) race or ethnicity, as defined by Article 2B.0051 , Code of Criminal Procedure; and (iv) country of origin, if the victim is not a United States citizen or legal permanent resident; and (B) if available, information regarding any victims' service organization or program to which the victim was referred as part of the investigation. (c) An entity described by Subsection (a) that does not have any investigations or offenses required to be reported under this section during a reporting period described by Subsection (c-1) shall submit to the attorney general a notice stating there are no cases to report, in the manner and form prescribed by the attorney general. (c-1) An entity described by Subsection (a) shall submit a report under this section at least once every six months. (d) The attorney general may enter into a contract with a university or organization to assist with the collection and analysis of information received under this section. The attorney general shall ensure that all sensitive information is properly protected. (e) Information described by Subsections (b)(2)(A)(i) and (v) and (b)(2)(B) is confidential and not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552 . (f) In consultation with the entities described by Subsection (a), the attorney general shall adopt rules to administer this section, including rules prescribing: (1) the form and manner of submission of a report or notice required by Subsection (b) or (c); and (2) additional information to include in a report or notice required by Subsection (b) or (c). (g) An entity, other than an entity described by Subsection (a), that has information relating to the alleged commission of an offense under Chapter 20A , Penal Code, or an offense under Chapter 21 , 22 , or 43 , Penal Code, that may involve human trafficking, may submit the information to the office of the attorney general. Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 765 (H.B. 4504 ), Sec. 1.001, eff. January 1, 2025. Amended by: Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 204 (H.B. 1620 ), Sec. 5.008(a), eff. September 1, 2025. Transferred, redesignated and amended from Code of Criminal Procedure, Art/Sec 2A.205 by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 250 (H.B. 1778 ), Sec. 1.06, eff. September 1, 2025.