This reporting is mandatory pursuant to Article 2.305 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure (CCP) (updated and effective on September 1, 2023). If you reside in a county with a population of 50,000 or more and you are one of the following identified entities, you MUST submit reports in accordance with Article 2.305:
- The Department of Public Safety
- Municipal police departments
- Sheriff’s departments
- Constable’s offices
Article 2.305 requires the above law enforcement entities in counties with a population of 50,000 or more to submit human trafficking data to the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) in the manner and form prescribed by the Attorney General. Reports are due, at a minimum, to the OAG on April 1 and October 1 of each year.
This form MUST be submitted for EACH individual human trafficking offense (mandatory-reporting offense). A mandatory-reporting offense per CCP Article 2.305 is a Chapter 20A offense or a Chapter 43 offense which may involve human trafficking. For multiple suspects, same mandatory-reporting offense, and course of conduct, one submission is permissible (listing multiple suspects). For multiple suspects, same course of conduct, but different mandatory-reporting offenses, separate submissions are required. Please ensure that all fields on the form have been completed and provide an explanation for any fields that are not completed.
We encourage organizations to engage in internal discussions to determine the responsible party for these submissions to eliminate duplicative efforts and ensure continued compliance with the statute.
If you are one of the listed entities above and have no cases to report, you still must submit a form biannually to remain in compliance. Please complete ALL required contact information and check the box for “NO OFFENSE TO REPORT” to ensure compliance.
If you are a county under 50,000 in population and choose to report human trafficking case reports, please follow the same procedures listed above.
We encourage you to keep an internal copy of submissions for your records. If you have questions please review our Frequently Asked Questions about Human Trafficking Reporting or email us at [email protected].