On January 24 Representative Senfronia Thompson, alongside other legislators and activists, held a press conference to discuss many of the bills filed regarding human trafficking prevention. A recording of this event can be found here.
This report is intended to give you an overview and highlight the various topics taken up. It is not a verbatim transcript of the discussions but is based upon what was audible or understandable to the observer and the desire to get details out as quickly as possible with few errors or omissions.
Dr. Bob Sanborn, Children at Risk
- University of Texas estimates more than 80K kids are trafficked every year
- $100 million industry in Dallas and $110 million industry in Houston
- Are more brothels than Starbucks in Houston
- This is happening across the state of Texas
Representative Senfronia Thompson, HD 141
- Proud to have taken a part in the prevention of human trafficking
- HB 350 will seek to address issues of illicit ATMs that can be purchased or owned by anyone
- Will also help law enforcement determine persons of interest and permit discovery of larger criminal networks involved in human trafficking at the illicit massage parlors
- 35,000 children a day are confronted; illicit businesses are within 1,000 yards from school
- HB 444 will help reduce number of illicit massage parlors by allow local attorneys to recoup illegal profits
- Need to address how traffickers are trafficking their victims
- State needs to insure that drivers have access to high quality training
- Plan to file legislation that will help train Share riders and app drivers to recognize signs of human trafficking
Senator Joan Huffman, SD 17
- Back in 2008 there was not a lot of awareness regarding trafficking
- After UT study allowed us to see this is a huge issue
- Sad that we still haven’t solved this issue
- Thompson and I will be filing human trafficking omnibus bill
- First state to make the purchase of sex a felony
- SB 1 has $57.5 million to expand services for victims and for law enforcement
Senator John Whitmire, SD 15
- First way to solve problem is to admit you have one; it’s been established that Texas has one
- Know for a fact that many of the immigrants are being trafficked for sex and abuse
- We will welcome bills from other sponsors
- Law enforcement needs a bit more energy in this endeavor
- 300 women locked up in TDCJ due to sex work; they do not need to be in prison
Representative Ann Johnson, HD 134
- Back in 2007 I took case to supreme court regarding representing a girl for child trafficking
- We made this change nationwide thanks to Texas
- This battle is not over, what is most needed is the vigilance to continue to lead the nation in preventing human trafficking
Representative Matt Shaheen, HD 66
- This is a significant issue; our work is a labor of love for the victims
- Average age for a human trafficking victim in Texas is a 12-15-year-old female
- Last session passed a bill preventing a person involved in sex trafficking to be eligible for parole
- Filed HB 1004 if someone engages a proustite in Texas and the prostitute was engaged in human trafficking the state can increase charges
- Thanks to authorities for the bust in my district
Representative Jacey Jetton, HD 26
- Honor to be up here and proud to join members fighting human trafficking
- Many communities argue that there is no human trafficking, I promise you there is
- Filed HB 279 to protect those with disabilities from being human trafficked
- Big issue is the white label ATMs are how money is being used for illicit activities
- Share riders are tools right now for human traffickers
- Need to continue to pass new legislation and make sure we keep up with the changes
Dr. Bob Sanborn, Children at Risk
- Human trafficking is a big issue for every community in Texas
- We must do more and thank you to everyone here for all that you are doing