Austin, TX – Senator Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston) passed SB 466 / HB 279 by Representative Jacey Jetton (R-Katy) out of the Texas Senate to expand protections against human trafficking for adults with disabilities. “Gandhi said that a ‘true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members.’ HB 279 makes sure that those who take advantage of our most vulnerable citizens in the most egregious acts are swiftly punished and put behind bars!” said Senator Bettencourt.

People with disabilities are at a higher risk of trafficking compared to the general public. Traffickers may seek out someone with a disability to gain access to their Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Insurance, because they may have difficulties communicating or reporting abuse, or because they may be sheltered or isolated, according to The Office for Victims of Crime Training and Technical Assistance Center.

“Human trafficking is a horrific crime impacting the most vulnerable Texans, so the first bill I filed for this session was HB 279, to give more protections to trafficking victims with disabilities,” Jetton said. “HB 279 strengthens laws against trafficking adults with disabilities and better empowers our law enforcement to prosecute traffickers. I am grateful to Senator Bettencourt for his work on passing this bill in the Senate and his partnership in supporting legislation to combat human trafficking.” Concluded Rep. Jetton.

Currently, law enforcement officers and agencies struggle to prosecute human trafficking cases because the burden of proof is high, requiring a demonstration of force, fraud, and coercion. HB 279 will address the issue and put more human traffickers behind bars by putting the trafficking of a disabled person under the same conditions for prosecution as child trafficking, which doesn’t require proof of fraud, force, or coercion.

HB 279 will head to the Texas Governor for signature review, and if approved, it will go into effect September 1, 2023. “HB 279 will help our officers and prosecutors by placing persons with disabilities under the same threshold as child trafficking, making it easier for human traffickers to be taken off the streets. I laud Rep. Jetton’s work on HB 279 in the Texas House and look forward to seeing it be sent to Governor Abbott’s desk for signature,” concluded Senator Bettencourt.

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