Senate committee advances bill requiring human-trafficking training and victim services in schools

A Senate Education Committee advanced legislation on human-trafficking prevention for public schools, saying the measure will standardize training and expand services for youth victims.

The committee on April 17 reported SB 83 favorably after adopting an author-requested amendment that, among other clarifications, strengthens the role of care-coordination teams and aligns services with existing law to extend victim advocacy up to age 21. "The purpose of this bill is to strengthen the early identification of victims within our school systems and to ensure that they have wraparound care and services in place," Mary Kate Entrepan, executive director of the governor's office of human trafficking prevention, told the committee.

The bill requires each local public school to adopt policies and training on prevention, identification, assistance and procedures for child and youth victims of human trafficking. The sponsor's amendment clarifies that care-coordination teams will operate consistent with multidisciplinary investigative-team rules and specify responsibilities for investigation and coordination.

Students and members of the Legislative Youth Advisory Council also testified in support, saying schools are a critical place to spot victims and ensure help reaches students who might otherwise fall through gaps in services. "This bill is an important step towards ensuring that schools are prepared to recognize and respond to human trafficking," one student testified.

Committee members acted by voice to adopt the amendment and then to report the bill favorably; no formal roll-call vote was recorded in the transcript. The committee indicated the measure will move next to the full Senate for consideration.

If enacted, the bill would require school districts to adopt consistent policies and training for staff identification and response, and expand state coordination of advocacy services to include young adults through age 21.