Relating to human trafficking prevention, including training for medical assistants, disclosure of human trafficking information by certain health care facilities, and protection for facility employees who report human trafficking.
Summary
HB 754 creates a new human trafficking prevention framework for certain health care facilities and medical assistants in Texas. It requires facilities to post a prominently visible, multilingual sign that tells employees that health care practitioners and medical assistants must receive human trafficking prevention training, explains how to recognize and report trafficking, and provides reporting contacts for the attorney general and the Department of Public Safety. The sign must also inform employees that they are protected from discipline or retaliation for making a good-faith report of suspected trafficking.
The bill also adds a new Health and Safety Code chapter requiring medical assistants to complete an approved human trafficking prevention training course within a time period set by rule. The Health and Human Services Commission’s executive commissioner must approve training courses, post the approved list online, and include at least one free course. The bill defines medical assistant broadly and ties the trafficking definition to the Penal Code offense of human trafficking. It takes effect September 1, 2025.
Impact
HB 754 amends the Health and Safety Code by adding Chapters 328 and 763, imposing new compliance duties on certain health care facilities and training obligations on medical assistants. It also directs the attorney general to design the required notice and the Health and Human Services Commission to adopt rules and maintain an approved-course list. The bill affects health care facilities, medical assistants, facility employees, the attorney general, the Department of Public Safety, and HHSC, while creating anti-retaliation protections for employees who report suspected trafficking in good faith.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have broad bipartisan support and little visible opposition. It passed the House overwhelmingly, with only one no vote on third reading, and passed the Senate unanimously. The available record shows no committee transcript debate, suggesting the measure was relatively noncontroversial and viewed as a public-safety and victim-protection bill.
Contention
The main policy issues embedded in the bill are implementation details rather than overall opposition. Potential points of concern include the compliance burden on health care facilities to post signs in multiple languages, the requirement that medical assistants complete approved training, and the need for HHSC and the attorney general to develop rules, approve courses, and design the mandated notice. The anti-retaliation provision and mandatory reporting information are likely intended to strengthen employee reporting, but they also create new workplace obligations for facilities and supervisors.
Identical
Relating to human trafficking prevention, including training for medical assistants, disclosure of human trafficking information by certain health care facilities, and protection for facility employees who report human trafficking.
Relating to human trafficking prevention, including training for medical assistants, disclosure of human trafficking information by certain health care facilities, and protection for facility employees who report human trafficking.
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.
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.
Expands crime of human trafficking and eliminates statute of limitations; establishes human trafficking response teams; expands human trafficking training and education requirements; appropriates $1 million to Commission on Human Trafficking.
Expands crime of human trafficking and eliminates statute of limitations; establishes human trafficking response teams; expands human trafficking training and education requirements; appropriates $1 million to Commission on Human Trafficking.
Relating to the punishment for certain criminal conduct involving trafficking of persons, the human trafficking prevention coordinating council and the human trafficking prevention task force; increasing criminal penalties.