Currently, there's not a civil remedy for trafficking victims to recover damages.  This bill provides another legal mechanism to clamp down on traffickers and trafficking activities. The bill provides that "a defendant who engages in the trafficking of persons, including knowingly trafficking another person, or intentionally or knowingly benefiting from participating in a venture that traffics another person, is liable to the person trafficked  for damages arising from the trafficking of that person by the defendant or venture."

(The definition of trafficking is tied to the Penal Code. )

Over the past several years, asset seizure and forfeiture have been effective tools and resources for law enforcement agencies Texas has no enforcement authority over businesses convicted of human trafficking and does not have a civil statute to pursue cases of organized human trafficking.  Restitution to victims of human trafficking is not mandatory under state law, but is mandatory under federal law.Restitution benefits human trafficking victims by replacing lost wages and expenses incurred by victims.