House Bill 390 was introduced by Rep. Senfronia Thompson (D-Houston | Adobe Stock
House Bill 390 was introduced by Rep. Senfronia Thompson (D-Houston | Adobe Stock
A bill making its way through the Capitol halls in Austin can potentially offer another tool in the fight against human trafficking in Texas.
House Bill 390, authored by Rep. Senfronia Thompson (D-Houston), will require commercial lodging establishment employees to receive training in human trafficking awareness. The materials would be state-approved and those that violate the provisions would be subject to a civil penalty. Text from the bill reported it would take effect Jan. 1, 2022, if passed.
No significant fiscal implication is anticipated to Texas.
Senfronia Thompson
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The bill seeks to help stem a growing problem within the state, even with the COVID-19 pandemic. Austin News previously reported human trafficking arrests increased 251% over the past year while the Department of Homeland Security identified 185% more victims. The industry, as a whole, was a money machine bringing in $185 billion for traffickers.
“In Texas, sex trafficking is the most common form that is reported and identified," Nikki Pressley, a policy analyst for the Texas Public Policy Foundation, previously told Austin News. "However, labor trafficking is also extremely prevalent. It's estimated there are about 234,000 victims of labor trafficking in Texas. There is less attention on this form of trafficking, and it can take many forms so it’s more difficult to identify. In some cases, such as illicit massage businesses, there can be a combination of sex and labor trafficking.”
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