TITLE: Relating to the assessment of juveniles who are victims of sex trafficking.

SUMMARY: Relating to the assessment of juveniles who are victims of sex trafficking.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to the assessment of juveniles who are victims of sex trafficking. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 221, Human Resources Code, is amended by adding Section 221.0035 to read as follows: Sec. 221.0035. BEST PRACTICES TO IDENTIFY AND ASSESS VICTIMS OF SEX TRAFFICKING. (a) In this section, "sex trafficking" means an offense under Section 20A.02(a)(7), Penal Code. (b) The department shall evaluate the practices and screening procedures used by juvenile probation departments for the early identification of juveniles who are victims of sex trafficking for the purpose of developing a recommended set of best practices that may be used by a juvenile probation department to improve the juvenile probation department's ability to identify a juvenile who is a victim of sex trafficking. (c) Best practices may include: (1) examining a juvenile's referral history, including whether the juvenile has a history of running away from home or has been adjudicated for previous offenses; (2) making inquiries into a juvenile's history of sexual abuse; (3) assessing a juvenile's need for services, including counseling through a rape crisis center or other counseling; and (4) asking the juvenile a series of questions designed to determine whether the juvenile is at high risk of being a victim of sex trafficking. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.