Fighting Trafficking in the Senate
Submitted by
Monica Schultz
A Public Hearing on the Senate Bills effecting human and child trafficking took place in February. These are 2 of the 4 Bills that were up for consideration:
SENATE BILL 838
Establishes a Department of Justice administered grant program providing $2,500,000 biennially to nonprofit organizations to provide support services to trafficking victims. The bill defines support services, requires coordination with local law enforcement and a 50% match for the grant amount.
SENATE BILL 849
Focuses on civil causes of action for human trafficking and child trafficking. It aims to amend statutes that allow victims to file civil lawsuits for damages, potentially expanding the time frame for legal action and clarifying that such suits can be initiated without a criminal conviction.