CONCEPT DRAFT

SUMMARY

This bill is a concept draft pursuant to Joint Rule 208.

This bill proposes to enact 2 types of legislative initiatives to combat the trafficking of human beings across borders and into the State for sexual and labor exploitation.

1. This bill would amend the criminal laws to enact a comprehensive antitrafficking law that would:

A. Make trafficking of women, men and children into the State from other countries a Class B crime;

B. Enact protections from prosecution for the women, men and children who have been trafficked into our State;

C. Prohibit a trafficker's assertion of the victim's alleged consent to be used as a defense; and

D. Hold responsible a landowner or employer who knew or should have known that trafficking was occurring on premises over which the landowner or employer exerted control.

2. This bill would establish a task force of experts to determine the nature and extent of trafficking in the State and make recommendations for legislative, policy and programmatic initiatives.

The task force would be composed of Legislators appointed by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives; the Attorney General; the Commissioner of Health and Human Services; the Commissioner of Public Safety; the Commissioner of Labor; local law enforcement officials; health care providers; social service agency representatives; advocates for refugee and immigrant women, men and children; and providers of services and support for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Specifically, the task force would:

A. Identify available federal, state and local programs that provide services to victims of trafficking that include, but are not limited to, health care, human services, housing, education assistance, job training or