TITLE 26. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

PART 1. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION

CHAPTER 370. HUMAN TRAFFICKING RESOURCE CENTER

The executive commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) adopts an amendment to §370.1, concerning Human Trafficking Prevention Training Requirements.

Section 370.1 is adopted without changes to the proposed text as published in the June 26, 2026, issue of the Texas Register (51 TexReg 4104). This rule will not be republished.

BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION

The amendment is necessary to comply with House Bill (HB) 742, HB 754, and HB 1778, 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, which requires HHSC to include medical assistants, first responders, and tattoo or body piercing studio employees, to the list of professions required to take HHSC-approved human trafficking prevention training.

HB 742 and HB 754 amended Texas Health and Safety Code (HSC) Chapter 763 to require human trafficking prevention training for first responders and medical assistants, respectively. HB 1778 added HSC §146.0075 to require each employee of a tattoo studio or body piercing studio to complete human trafficking prevention training.

COMMENTS

The 31-day comment period ended July 27, 2026.

HHSC received comments regarding the proposed rule from four commenters. HHSC received comments from The American Association of Medical Assistants, the Texas Society of Medical Assistants, UT Southwestern Medical Center, and one individual. A summary of comments relating to the rule and HHSC's responses follows.

Comment: A commenter supported the addition of "resources to support victims" in §370.1(a)(2)(D) and suggested that HHSC distinguish between short-term and long-term resources in the rule.

Response: HHSC declines to make the suggested change in the rule but will consider making this distinction regarding resources in the Human Trafficking Prevention Training Standards.

Comment: A commenter supported the addition of required human trafficking prevention training for medical assistants and would like to submit a course the commenter has developed for medical assistants to HHSC for review and approval.

Response: HHSC acknowledges the comment. No changes were made to the rule in response to this comment.

Comment: A commenter supported the addition of the new professions to the human trafficking prevention training requirement. They also commended HHSC on its use of plain language and appreciated the low implementation burden of the amended rule.

Response: HHSC acknowledges the comment. No changes were made to the rule in response to this comment.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

The amendment is adopted under Texas Government Code §524.0151, which provides that the executive commissioner of HHSC shall adopt rules for the operation and provision of services by the health and human services system, and Texas Health and Safety Code Chapters 146 and 763, which authorize the executive commissioner of HHSC to adopt rules governing the Human Trafficking Resource Center.

The agency certifies that legal counsel has reviewed the adoption and found it to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on September 21, 2026.

TRD-202604077

Stephanie Tourk

Deputy Chief Counsel

Health and Human Services Commission

Effective date: October 11, 2026

Proposal publication date: June 26, 2026

For further information, please call: (512) 438-3235