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Senate passes broad criminal justice bill strengthening trafficking, prostitution and child exploitation penalties
Summary
The Texas Senate on a unanimous voice and roll-callpassed House Bill 17 78, a package of measures based on the Texas Human Trafficking Prevention Task Force recommendations that expands criminal penalties, victim protections and training requirements for human trafficking, prostitution and child sexual exploitation.
The Texas Senate on final passage approved House Bill 17 78, a broad criminal-justice measure that updates statutes on human trafficking, prostitution and child sexual exploitation and adds new victim protections.
Senator Joan Huffman, speaking for the bill, said it codifies recommendations from the Texas Human Trafficking Prevention Task Force and “strengthen[s] human trafficking prevention and response by enhancing interagency coordination.” Huffman described provisions that expand identification training to include tattoo and piercing studios and add continuing education for barbers and cosmetologists. "This will make this a first degree felony with a minimum of 15 years in prison" for certain child-exploitation…
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