Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Senate committee advances bill creating duress defense for trafficking survivors; advocates push wider protections
Summary
Senate Bill 11 would create an affirmative defense for people forced to commit crimes through force, fraud or coercion by human traffickers. The committee heard supporters urging broader coverage of offenses and recommended immediate application for past cases.
The Senate Committee on State Affairs heard and voted to advance Senate Bill 11, which would create an affirmative defense for criminal conduct when the defendant proves they were compelled by force, fraud or coercion as a victim of human trafficking.
Why it matters: Advocates said current Texas law limits duress to immediate threats of death or serious bodily injury and does not reflect the coercive tactics used by…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
