Senate Codes Committee advances bill to let trafficking victims seek recovery from estates after survivors testify

State Senator Zelmer Myrie, chair of the Senate Codes Committee, opened the May 4 hearing by saying survivors’ testimony would guide the committee’s work and introduced several women who described being recruited, coerced and abused by Jeffrey Epstein and his associates.

"I was recruited with the promise of a Victoria's Secret's modeling contract," survivor Laura Bloom McGee told the committee, describing grooming, repeated assaults that were recorded and years of fear and silence. Corinne Silva said she was 17 when she was coerced into sexual acts and urged lawmakers to "Please pass the *** *** trafficking recovery and accountability act" so victims could seek justice.

Catherine Raab, national director of the Children’s Justice Campaign at Enough Abuse and a survivor, framed the bills as both remedial and preventive. She cited data she said showed delayed disclosure is common — "about 21 years" on average — and described trafficking as sustained by a network of enablers and businesses. "Justice delayed, as we know, is justice denied," Raab said, arguing the legislation would hold those who knowingly profit from trafficking accountable.

Committee members voiced bipartisan support for taking legislative action. Senator Palumbo, recounting his time as a prosecutor, said the proposal closed a loophole by making "everyone involved civilly liable for the criminal enterprise." Senator Murray noted the emotional impact of the testimony and said the bill was a "fantastic step forward," while other members suggested additional legal issues the Legislature could explore, such as considering dangerousness in bail-setting and addressing doctrines that erase convictions if a defendant dies on appeal.

After the testimony and discussion, the committee took up its bill agenda. Three measures were moved and advanced by voice vote: Senate Print 4406 (an act to amend the criminal procedure law) was moved by Senator Persaud and seconded by Senator Salazar and reported; Senate Print 6460 (an act to amend the penal law) was moved by Senator Palumbo, seconded by Senator Bailey and reported; and Senate Print 9960, sponsored by Chair Myrie and described as amending the penal law to permit recovery from estates that benefited from trafficking ventures, was moved, seconded and reported out of committee.

The bills were reported out on voice votes (committee minutes record the voice 'aye'); the record in this hearing does not provide named roll-call tallies. Chair Myrie said the survivors' accounts were the reason for introducing the legislation and urged prompt action, noting that "time is of the essence" because estates and other remedies can diminish as time passes.

The committee meeting concluded after the votes. The bill described as Senate Print 9960 will next move through the legislative process on the Senate floor for further consideration.