SF 521 (LSB 2452SV (2) 89)

SENATE FILE 521

BY  COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

(SUCCESSOR TO SF 305)

A BILL FOR

An Act providing for a human trafficking task force and an annual report to the general assembly. 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 80.45, subsection 3, paragraph h, Code 2021, is amended to read as follows:
   h.  By November 1, 2017, and annually thereafter, submit a Submit an annual written report by November 1 to the general assembly regarding the office’s activities related to combatting human trafficking and occurrences of human trafficking within this state, and that includes the findings and recommendations provided by the human trafficking task force pursuant to section 80.45B, subsection 5.
    Sec. 2.  NEW SECTION.  80.45B  Human trafficking task force.
   1.  The commissioner shall establish, by January 30, 2022, a task force that shall do all of the following:
   a.  Collaborate with the office to combat human trafficking.
   b.  Examine the extent of human trafficking in the state.
   c.  Identify current initiatives to eliminate human trafficking in the state.
   d.  Identify current services available in the state to victims of human trafficking.
   e.  Utilize research and information available from the United States department of justice and the federal bureau of investigation.
   f.  Develop a human trafficking informational poster that must include the toll-free telephone number for the national human trafficking hotline and that may include telephone numbers of additional resources where human trafficking victims may obtain assistance. The task force shall coordinate with local businesses and nonprofit entities associated with the prevention of human trafficking to encourage voluntary placement of the poster in adult entertainment establishments, rest stops, schools, gas stations, hotels, hospitals, health care clinics, airports, bus stations, and other locations around the state deemed appropriate by the task force. 
   g.  Research and recommend a model of rehabilitative services for victims of human trafficking that includes input from law enforcement, social services organizations, the judicial system, mental health professionals, and organizations that work with immigrants.
   h.  Identify barriers that prevent victims of human trafficking from seeking legal assistance or medical attention.
   i.  Investigate and identify potential routes to eliminate human trafficking in the state.
   j.  Investigate and identify potential alternatives to promote recovery, save lives, and protect families and children who may be impacted by human trafficking.
   k.  Report on findings and make recommendations in the report submitted to the general assembly under subsection 5.
   2.  The task force shall consist of the following members:
   a.  The commissioner or the commissioner’s designee.
   b.  The coordinator of the office to combat human trafficking.
   c.  The director of the law enforcement academy or the director’s designee.
   d.  The attorney general or the attorney general’s designee.
   e.  A human trafficking prosecutor from the office of the attorney general.
   f.  The director of the department of corrections or the director’s designee.
   g.  The director of the department of education or the director’s designee.
   h.  The director of the department of human services or the director’s designee.
   i.  The labor commissioner of the division of labor services of the department of workforce development or the commissioner’s designee.
   j.  The director of the department of inspections and appeals or the director’s designee.
   k.  The state fire marshal of the division of state fire marshal of the department of public safety or the marshal’s designee.
   l.  A representative of the division of state patrol of the department of public safety as selected by the commissioner of the department of public safety.
   m.  A representative of the office of motor vehicle enforcement of the department of transportation as selected by the director of the department of transportation.
   n.  The state court administrator or the administrator’s designee.
   o.  The following members who shall be appointed by the governor:
   (1)  The chief of police or head law enforcement official of a city in this state with a population of two hundred thousand or more as determined by the most recent population estimates issued by the United States bureau of census.
   (2)  The chief of police or head law enforcement official of a city in this state with a population of less than two hundred thousand as determined by the most recent population estimates issued by the United States bureau of census.
   (3)  A county sheriff.
   (4)  A county supervisor.
   (5)  A county attorney.
   (6)  A mayor or city manager. 
   (7)  An individual involved with the control or prevention of juvenile delinquency in the state.
   (8)  An individual involved with the control or prevention of child abuse in the state.
   (9)  A representative of a statewide volunteer organization devoted exclusively to ending all forms of human trafficking.
   (10)  A representative of a nonprofit organization located in this state that organizes bike rides and other endurance events in multiple cities across the United States to raise awareness and funds to fight human trafficking.
   (11)  A representative of a statewide crisis hotline.
   (12)  A representative of an organization in this state that provides comprehensive services to survivors of human trafficking.
   (13)  A representative of a multidisciplinary team at a child protection center established pursuant to section 135.118.
   (14)  A representative of victim witness services at a county attorney office in the state.
   (15)  Six members from the general public, at least three of whom are female, that includes all of the following:
   (a)  A professional involved with child welfare issues.
   (b)  A professional involved with juvenile delinquency proceedings.
   (c)  An individual who resides in a rural area.
   (d)  An individual who resides in an urban area.
   (e)  A survivor of human trafficking.
   3.  a.  The members of the task force appointed by the governor shall serve six-year terms, except that of the members first appointed, four shall serve an initial two-year term, four shall serve an initial four-year term, and six shall serve an initial six-year term. Thereafter, all other appointed members shall serve a six-year term. 
   b.  The governor shall appoint a new member to fill a vacancy that occurs before the end of the term of a member appointed by the governor, and the newly appointed member shall serve for the remaining period of the term.
   c.  A member of the task force may be appointed to serve more than one term.
   d.  A member shall not continue to serve on the task force beyond the date at which the member no longer holds the office, employment, or status by which the member had been eligible to serve on the task force.
   e.  A member of the task force appointed by the governor may be removed from the task force for being absent from three regularly scheduled meetings of the task force during any six-month period.
   f.  Eleven members of the task force shall constitute a quorum and the task force shall have the power to act by a majority of the members present at any meeting at which a quorum is present. 
   4.  The commissioner or the commissioner’s designee shall serve as the chairperson of the task force.
   5.  The commissioner or the commissioner’s designee shall provide the findings and recommendations of the task force to the coordinator of the office of human trafficking for inclusion in the annual report submitted by the office to the general assembly pursuant to section 80.45, subsection 3, paragraph “h”.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill directs the commissioner of public safety to establish a human trafficking task force to investigate human trafficking (trafficking) in the state, identify services available for victims of trafficking, identify barriers that prevent victims from seeking legal assistance or medical attention, research and recommend a model of rehabilitative services for victims of trafficking, and accomplish other objectives as detailed in the bill. The required members of the task force are specified in the bill. The bill requires the commissioner to provide the findings and recommendations of the task force to the coordinator of the office of human trafficking for inclusion in the annual report submitted by the office to the general assembly by November 1.