89R2683 MCF-F     By: Parker S.B. No. 1828       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   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.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subtitle G, Title 4, Health and Safety Code, is   amended by adding Chapter 328 to read as follows:   CHAPTER 328. HUMAN TRAFFICKING PREVENTION IN CERTAIN FACILITIES          Sec. 328.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:                (1)  "Facility" has the meaning assigned by Section   31.002.                (2)  "Medical assistant" has the meaning assigned by   Section 763.001.          Sec. 328.002.  HUMAN TRAFFICKING SIGNS REQUIRED.  (a)  A   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 medical   assistants are required to receive human trafficking prevention   training."; and                      (B)  "An 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 or a violation of   this chapter; 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. 328.003.  DISCRIMINATION AND RETALIATION PROHIBITED.  A   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 another appropriate authority.          SECTION 2.  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 MEDICAL ASSISTANTS          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)  "Human trafficking" means conduct that   constitutes an offense under Section 20A.02, Penal Code.                (4)  "Medical assistant" means an individual who, under   the supervision of a physician, assists with patient care   management, executes administrative duties, and performs clinical   procedures, including:                      (A)  conducting aseptic procedures;                      (B)  obtaining vital signs;                       (C)  preparing patients for the physician's care;                      (D)  performing venipunctures and non-intravenous   injections;                      (E)  observing and reporting patients' symptoms;                      (F)  administering basic first aid;                      (G)  assisting with patient examinations or   treatments;                      (H)  operating office medical equipment;                      (I)  collecting routine laboratory specimens, as   directed by the physician;                      (J)  administering medication, as directed by the   physician;                      (K)  performing basic laboratory procedures; and                      (L)  performing dialysis procedures, including   home dialysis.          Sec. 763.002.  REQUIRED HUMAN TRAFFICKING TRAINING. A   medical assistant, 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 3.  As soon as practicable after the effective date   of this Act, the attorney general shall design the sign required by   Section 328.002, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act.          SECTION 4.  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 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.