Committee backs bill asking FCC to clear a three‑digit trafficking hotline

Representative Peck asked a legislative committee to recommend that Utah press the federal government for a single three‑digit human‑trafficking hotline, arguing on behalf of survivors and responders that a short, memorable number would make it easier to report and route calls to trained professionals.

Rep. Peck opened the presentation by citing National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reporting and other estimates to describe what she called widespread underreporting of child trafficking. "We want to petition the federal government to give the nation a 3 digit number for child trafficking," she told the committee, adding that Department of Health and Human Services staff have prepared an FCC application and that the attorney general’s office has been involved in drafting ideas for the submission. Rep. Peck said the bill’s fiscal note is $0 because it asks the state only to apply for allocation of a number, which the FCC controls.

The bill’s witnesses emphasized practical reasons for a short number. Wendy Jensen Nichols, who helped lead the outreach effort, said a single short code would make it easier for victims and bystanders to recall where to call and would link callers to trained advocates instead of routing all calls through overburdened 911 centers. Survivor Kimberly Rea Cohen described long‑term abuse and repeated system failures and told lawmakers she would have benefited from a simpler, clearly designated line for help. "I was your girl next door," Cohen said, recounting being trafficked and the legal and reporting failures she experienced.

Committee members asked technical and operational questions. Representative Kristofferson and others probed whether 911 could handle trafficking reports; Rep. Peck and witnesses said 911 handles immediate emergencies but that many trafficking situations are not reported as emergencies because perpetrators are people the victim knows, and routing non‑emergency trafficking calls through a dedicated three‑digit line would connect callers to specialized responders without adding unnecessary load to emergency dispatch. Representative DeFe asked whether the bill covers labor trafficking; Rep. Peck said it does.

Public commenters — including clergy, nonprofit leaders, a school board representative and public safety officials — spoke in support. Joseph Carey, a member of the Utah State Board of Education, cited SafeUT as an example of how simpler reporting tools can increase use by young people; others said restroom signage and QR codes are useful but that trafficked people may lack access to phones, making a short audible number necessary.

After the testimony and questions, Representative Romero moved that the committee pass HB411 (first substitute) with a favorable recommendation. The committee voted by voice and the motion passed unanimously. Rep. Peck said the state will coordinate with other states and federal contacts to press the FCC and route any allocated three‑digit number to existing nonprofit and agency partners.

Next steps: the committee gave HB411 a favorable recommendation and the bill will proceed in the legislative process; sponsors said the state will file the FCC application through DHHS and work with federal contacts to seek allocation and implementation details.