Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official page posted by the Texas Legislature, fetched 2026-08-29. Where this bill amends existing law, language marked for deletion in the official page appears here in brackets. This is the enrolled version. The official bill page.
H.B. No. 742 AN ACT relating to human trafficking prevention, including training for first responders, disclosure of human trafficking information by certain health care facilities, and protection for facility employees who report human trafficking. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subtitle A, Title 9, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Chapter 763 to read as follows: CHAPTER 763. HUMAN TRAFFICKING PREVENTION TRAINING SUBCHAPTER A. TRAINING FOR FIRST RESPONDERS Sec. 763.001. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: (1) "Commission" means the Health and Human Services Commission. (2) "Executive commissioner" means the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission. (3) "First responder" means a public safety employee whose duties include responding rapidly to an emergency. The term: (A) includes: (i) fire protection personnel, as defined by Section 419.021, Government Code; and (ii) emergency medical services personnel, as defined by Section 773.003; and (B) does not include: (i) volunteer emergency services personnel; (ii) an emergency medical services volunteer, as defined by Section 773.003; or (iii) a peace officer or reserve law enforcement officer, as those terms are defined by Section 1701.001, Occupations Code, who is performing law enforcement duties. (4) "Human trafficking" means conduct that constitutes an offense under Section 20A.02, Penal Code. Sec. 763.002. REQUIRED HUMAN TRAFFICKING TRAINING. A first responder, within the time prescribed by commission rule, shall successfully complete a training course approved by the executive commissioner on identifying, assisting, and reporting victims of human trafficking. Sec. 763.003. TRAINING COURSE APPROVAL. (a) The executive commissioner shall: (1) approve training courses on human trafficking prevention, including at least one course available without charge; and (2) post a list of the approved training courses on the commission's Internet website. (b) The executive commissioner shall update the list of approved training courses described by Subsection (a) as necessary and consider for approval training courses conducted by health care facilities. SECTION 2. Section 241.011, Health and Safety Code, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 241.011. HUMAN TRAFFICKING SIGNS REQUIRED. (a) An emergency department of a hospital shall display a sign, at least 11 inches by 17 inches in size, written in at least a 16-point font and in the form prescribed by the attorney general, that includes: (1) the following statements: (A) "All health care practitioners and first responders are required to receive human trafficking prevention training."; and (B) "A hospital employee may not be disciplined, retaliated against, or otherwise discriminated against for reporting in good faith a suspected act of human trafficking."; (2) information on recognizing and reporting human trafficking and a list of human trafficking indicators; (3) a phone number the attorney general designates for reporting a suspected act of human trafficking; and (4) contact information for reporting suspicious activity to the Department of Public Safety. (b) The sign described by Subsection (a) must be posted: (1) in a location easily visible to all hospital employees; and (2) separately in English, Spanish, and any other primary language spoken by 10 percent or more of the hospital's employees [separate signs, in English and Spanish, that comply with Section 245.025 as if the hospital is an abortion facility]. SECTION 3. Subchapter A, Chapter 241, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Section 241.0115 to read as follows: Sec. 241.0115. DISCRIMINATION AND RETALIATION PROHIBITED. A hospital may not discipline, retaliate against, or otherwise discriminate against a hospital employee who in good faith reports a suspected act of human trafficking to the hospital, a law enforcement agency, the National Human Trafficking Resource Center, the attorney general, or any other appropriate authority. SECTION 4. Subchapter D, Chapter 254, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Sections 254.161 and 254.162 to read as follows: Sec. 254.161. HUMAN TRAFFICKING SIGNS REQUIRED. (a) A freestanding emergency medical care facility shall display a sign, at least 11 inches by 17 inches in size, written in at least a 16-point font and in the form prescribed by the attorney general, that includes: (1) the following statements: (A) "All health care practitioners and first responders are required to receive human trafficking prevention training."; and (B) "A freestanding emergency medical care facility employee may not be disciplined, retaliated against, or otherwise discriminated against for reporting in good faith a suspected act of human trafficking."; (2) information on recognizing and reporting human trafficking and a list of human trafficking indicators; (3) a phone number the attorney general designates for reporting a suspected act of human trafficking; and (4) contact information for reporting suspicious activity to the Department of Public Safety. (b) The sign described by Subsection (a) must be posted: (1) in a location easily visible to all facility employees; and (2) separately in English, Spanish, and any other primary language spoken by 10 percent or more of the facility's employees. Sec. 254.162. DISCRIMINATION AND RETALIATION PROHIBITED. A freestanding emergency medical care facility may not discipline, retaliate against, or otherwise discriminate against a facility employee who in good faith reports a suspected act of human trafficking to the facility, a law enforcement agency, the National Human Trafficking Resource Center, the attorney general, or any other appropriate authority. SECTION 5. As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall approve and post on the commission's Internet website the list of approved human trafficking prevention training courses and adopt rules necessary to implement Subchapter A, Chapter 763, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act. SECTION 6. As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, the attorney general shall design the sign required by Section 241.011, Health and Safety Code, as amended by this Act, and Section 254.161, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act. SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. ______________________________ ______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House I certify that H.B. No. 742 was passed by the House on April 24, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 145, Nays 1, 2 present, not voting. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House I certify that H.B. No. 742 was passed by the Senate on May 23, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. ______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: _____________________ Date _____________________ Governor
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