A new bill to combat human trafficking and protect children from exploitation in adult industry will be heard before the lawmakers today. The bill HB 1929, proposed by the House Representative Bill Zedler(R), aims to regulate owners, operators, and independent contractors in adult industry with licensure program. The bill, if implemented, will require the employers and independent contractors in adult industry to hold license to operate in the adult industry. The bill will also forbid licensure to those with sex crime history, including, human trafficking, prostitution, incest, and child pornography.
Texas has moved forward in terms of cracking down on human trafficking in the states. In January 2011, the governors, US Senator John Cornyn and Mayor Tom Leppert pledged to fight against human trafficking in Texas. During the days leading up to Super Bowl, police crackdown brought successful charges against thirteen people including pimps and traffickers. Also, earlier this month, the House just passed the bill to make human trafficking a felony in the state, which will subject the offenders harsher penalties upon conviction.
Thanks to the awareness raising effort by many nonprofit groups and individual advocates. Texas has made a tremendous progress in terms of cracking down on human trafficking since 2008, when the lower court judges refused to recognize victim status of a child who was forced into prostitution by her pimp.
For more information on the bill and the history of the bill, visit http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/82R/billtext/html/HB01929I.htm
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