Stopping Human Trafficking: State Grants, Increased Fines, and Child Pornography as Child Abuse (H.R. 3530)

This legislation addresses human trafficking—for sexual purposes or otherwise—through creating a number of new initiatives and provisions and amending some existing laws. Notably, the Act would impose an additional $5,000 dollar fine on any person convicted of human trafficking, define child pornography as a form of child abuse, and provide state grants through the Department of Defense to state law enforcement agencies, for the purpose of combating human trafficking. The bill would also allot funds to support services for child pornography victims and establish the Domestic Trafficking Victims Fund, into which penalties for trafficking would be paid to help fund state grants programs. The states grants will require a state match of 30 percent in year one, 40 percent in year two, and 50 percent in year three. The Act is described in greater detail below.

This bill is one of five pieces of legislation that the House is likely to vote on this week. The additional four are: 

• International Megan’s Law to Prevent Demand for Child Sex Trafficking
  
• Preventing Sex Trafficking and Improving Opportunities for Youth in Foster Care Act
  
• Stop Exploitation Through Trafficking Act
  
• SAVE Act 
  

-The National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) is a national, toll-free hotline, available to answer calls and texts from anywhere in the country, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year.

Phone: 1-888-373-7888

Text: HELP or INFO to BeFree (233733)

-According to the National Association of Attorneys General, human trafficking is a $32 billion global industry. The U.S. State Department estimates 14,500 to 17,500 people are trafficked into this country each year, with women accounting for 80 percent. Of those, 70 percent are forced into the commercial sex trade.

Establishment or enhancement of specialized law enforcement, first responders, health care officials, child welfare officials, juvenile justice personnel, prosecutors, and judicial personnel training programs. These programs must be geared towards identifying victims and acts of child human trafficking, address the unique needs of victims, facilitate the rescue of victims, investigate and prosecute acts of child human trafficking, and implement and educate on state safe harbor laws;

Establishment or enhancement of dedicated anti-child human trafficking law enforcement units and task forces to investigate child human trafficking offenses and to rescue victims.  This includes funding a broad range of law enforcement salaries, except that the percentage of the salary paid through this grant cannot exceed the amount of time expended on human trafficking issues by the law enforcement officer. Also permissible is funding for investigation expenses in child trafficking cases including wire taps, experts in the field, travel, and technical assistance. Funds may also be used for dedicated anti-child human trafficking prosecution units, and the establishment of child human trafficking victim witness safety, assistance and relocation programs;

Establishment or enhancement of problem solving court programs for child human trafficking victims including continual judicial supervision of those identified by law enforcement as potential trafficking victims, development of specialized and individualized treatment programs for trafficking victims, and collaborative efforts with child advocacy centers, child welfare agencies, shelters, and non-governmental organizations to provide services to victims and encourage cooperation with law enforcement;

Establishment or enhancement of victims’ services programs including residential care, 24-hour social services response systems, and counseling and case management services.