Bill > SB389

This bill creates the Anti-Human-Trafficking Intelligence Center (AHTIC) within the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation to serve as the state's primary entity for coordinating law enforcement efforts against human trafficking. The center will be responsible for detecting, preventing, and responding to human trafficking activities by collaborating with various agencies, including fusion centers, law enforcement, financial institutions, and educational institutions. The center will have a chief intelligence coordinator who will manage its operations and maintain confidentiality of sensitive information. The center's key functions include collecting and centralizing information about human trafficking, providing training and public outreach, and releasing non-sensitive information to relevant stakeholders. The bill requires an annual report detailing the center's operations, human trafficking statistics, and strategic plans. The department may solicit funding through gifts and grants (except from license holders) and can award grants to support anti-human trafficking efforts. Additionally, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation may establish a stakeholder workgroup to provide input on the center's administration, which will be in place until December 1, 2026. The bill is set to take effect either immediately with a two-thirds legislative vote or on September 1, 2025, if immediate effect is not achieved.

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https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=SB389