HB0118a -1- HB 118
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]
34-LS0316\I
HOUSE BILL NO. 118
IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA
THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - FIRST SESSION
BY REPRESENTATIVES VANCE, Underwood
Introduced: 2/26/25
Referred: Judiciary, Finance
A BILL
FOR AN ACT ENTITLED
"An Act establishing the Council on Human and Sex Trafficking; and providing for an 1
effective date." 2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 3
* Section 1. AS 39.25.110 is amended by adding a new paragraph to read: 4
(46) the executive director of the Council on Human and Sex 5
Trafficking employed under AS 44.41.155. 6
* Sec. 2. AS 39.50.200(b) is amended by adding a new paragraph to read: 7
(65) Council on Human and Sex Trafficking (AS 44.41.150). 8
* Sec. 3. AS 44.41 is amended by adding new sections to read: 9
Article 3. Council on Human and Sex Trafficking. 10
Sec. 44.41.150. Council on Human and Sex Trafficking. The Council on 11
Human and Sex Trafficking is created in the Department of Public Safety. The 12
purpose of the council is to provide planning and coordination of programs specific to 13
victim services, education, public awareness, data collection and dissemination, and 14 34-LS0316\I
HB 118 -2- HB0118a
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]
reducing demand for human and sex trafficking. 1
Sec. 44.41.155. Duties. (a) The council shall 2
(1) elect one of its members as chair; 3
(2) develop and implement a standardized data collection system on 4
human and sex trafficking, including methods for synthesizing and disseminating data 5
and establishing standardized definitions as necessary; 6
(3) receive and dispense state and federal money and award grants and 7
contracts from appropriations to qualified local community entities for the purpose of 8
human and sex trafficking intervention and prevention programs; 9
(4) oversee and audit qualified local community entities that receive 10
money from the council; 11
(5) coordinate and consult with the Department of Education and Early 12
Development, the Department of Corrections, the Department of Health, the 13
Department of Law, the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the 14
Department of Family and Community Services, the Department of Public Safety, 15
other state agencies and qualified local community entities dealing with human and 16
sex trafficking, including the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, and 17
survivors of human and sex trafficking to develop educational materials and resources 18
related to, and increase public awareness of, human and sex trafficking; 19
(6) provide technical assistance as requested by the state agencies and 20
qualified local community entities listed in (5) of this subsection; 21
(7) conduct public hearings and create opportunities for public input on 22
issues relating to human and sex trafficking in the state; 23
(8) make an annual report to the governor on the activities of the 24
council, plans of the council for new services and programs, and concerns of the 25
council, including recommendations for legislation necessary to carry out the purposes 26
of AS 44.41.150 - 44.41.175; the council shall notify the legislature that the report is 27
available; 28
(9) recruit and hire an executive director to oversee the council; the 29
executive director may hire staff; the executive director is in the exempt service under 30
AS 39.25.110 and staff members are in the classified service un
der AS 39.25.100. 31 34-LS0316\I
HB0118a -3- HB 118
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]
(b) The council may create advisory subcommittees. 1
Sec. 44.41.160. Membership. (a) The council consists of the following 15 2
members: 3
(1) seven members appointed by the governor as follows: 4
(A) two members who are mayors or elected officials in local 5
government; 6
(B) one member who represents a victim advocacy 7
organization; 8
(C) one member who represents an Alaska Native organization; 9
in this subparagraph, "Alaska Native organization" has the meaning given in 10
AS 18.66.020(d); 11
(D) one member who represents a local law enforcement 12
agency; 13
(E) one member who represents a faith-based community 14
organization; and 15
(F) one member who represents an organization that provides 16
direct services to the homeless; 17
(2) the chief executive officer of the Alaska Mental Health Trust 18
Authority or the chief executive officer's designee; 19
(3) the commissioner of health or the commissioner's designee; 20
(4) the attorney general or the attorney general's designee; 21
(5) the commissioner of public safety or the commissioner's designee; 22
(6) the commissioner of corrections or the commissioner's designee; 23
(7) the commissioner of education and early development or the 24
commissioner's designee; 25
(8) the commissioner of labor and workforce development or the 26
commissioner's designee; and 27
(9) the commissioner of family and community services or the 28
commissioner's designee. 29
(b) Public members of the council appointed under (a)(1) of this section serve 30
three-year terms. A public member serves at the pleasure of the governor and may not 31 34-LS0316\I
HB 118 -4- HB0118a
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]
serve more than two consecutive terms. The governor shall fill a vacancy of a public 1
member on the board by appointment for the unexpired portion of the vacated term. 2
(c) A person who receives compensation from or is an employee of the state or 3
a human or sex trafficking crisis intervention or prevention program may not be 4
appointed as a public member of the council. 5
Sec. 44.41.165. Meetings and quorum. (a) The council shall meet at least 6
quarterly by teleconference or other electronic means at times to be determined by the 7
chair. Additional meetings by teleconference or other electronic means may be called 8
by the chair. Advisory subcommittees shall meet by teleconference or other electronic 9
means. The council may hold an annual in-person meeting. 10
(b) The council may convene public meetings in person to present information 11
and receive public comment. 12
(c) Seven members of the council or a majority of filled positions, whichever 13
is fewer, constitute a quorum for conducting business. 14
Sec. 44.41.170. Compensation and expenses. The members of the council 15
receive no salary but are entitled to transportation expenses and per diem in 16
accordance with AS 39.20.180. 17
Sec. 44.41.175. Definitions. In AS 44.41.150 - 44.41.175, 18
(1) "council" means the Council on Human and Sex Trafficking; 19
(2) "human and sex trafficking" means conduct in violation of 20
AS 11.41.360, 11.41.365, or AS 11.66.110 - 11.66.130. 21
* Sec. 4. AS 44.66.010(a) is amended by adding a new paragraph to read: 22
(17) Council on Human and Sex Trafficking (AS 44.41.150) - June 30, 23
2029. 24
* Sec. 5. This Act takes effect July 1, 2026. 25