Sec. 50.0155.  TRAFFICKED PERSONS GRANT PROGRAM.  (a)  The commission shall establish the trafficked persons grant program to provide grants to applicants for dedicated housing and treatment facilities provided to human trafficking victims.
(b)  The commission by rule shall establish and publish on its Internet website eligibility criteria for grant recipients.  The commission must develop the criteria using research-based best practices and require the recipient to provide:
(1)  immediate trauma support to a human trafficking victim on the victim's initial rescue or recovery from trafficking;
(2)  wraparound services to facilitate a continuity of care for human trafficking victims placed in the recipient's facility as assisted by:
(A)  the Child Sex Trafficking Prevention Unit established under Section 772.0062, Government Code; or
(B)  the governor's program for victims of child sex trafficking established under Section 772.0063, Government Code; and
(3)  safe and constitutionally secure shelter that considers the clear and present danger of organized crime to the children and youth housed in the facility.
(c)  A grant applicant must provide to the commission plans that include:
(1)  a process for obtaining the consent of a qualified guardian of a human trafficking victim for the applicant's services and treatment;
(2)  a strategy for addressing the spectrum of needs for human trafficking victims, including victims whose history of trauma poses a risk to other residents of the shelter or facility;
(3)  a statement on whether the shelter or facility will provide:
(A)  acute or subacute services to address the immediate medical or treatment needs of the victims;
(B)  short-term housing services following initial rescue or recovery of victims; and
(C)  residential treatment services to meet long-term needs of victims; and
(4)  a statement on whether the shelter or facility will provide separate housing space according to age, risk, and medical or mental health needs of victims.
(d)  In determining whether to award a grant under this section, the commission shall prioritize applicants operating a shelter or facility that:
(1)  satisfies the requirements under Chapter 42, Human Resources Code;
(2)  provides dedicated housing or shelter space for the exclusive use of human trafficking victims; and
(3)  has not adopted a policy that allows the facility to refuse for any reason to provide facility services to persons presented to the facility by any person involved in the recovery of human trafficking victims.
Added by Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 704 (H.B. 2633), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2021.