ENROLLED
Page 1 of 2
Regular Session, 2013
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 178
BY REPRESENTATIVE HODGES
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON
To urge and request the Louisiana Workforce Commission to enforce laws related to age and
work status verification to prevent human trafficking.
WHEREAS, according to the United States Department of State, "trafficking in
persons" and "human trafficking" have been used as umbrella terms for activities involved
when someone obtains or holds a person in compelled service; and
WHEREAS, human trafficking is a tremendous problem in our nation and in the state
of Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, trafficked individuals are often forced to take grueling jobs as migrant,
domestic, restaurant, or factory workers with little or no pay; and
WHEREAS, victims of human trafficking include United States citizens, foreign
nationals, men, women, and underage children; and
WHEREAS, vulnerable people and communities are targeted by recruiters and
traffickers, and through deception, fraud, and coercion are brought into slavery; and
WHEREAS, the Federal Bureau of Investigation reports that federally funded task
forces opened two thousand five hundred fifteen suspected incidents of human trafficking
for investigation between January 2008 and June 2010; and
WHEREAS, roughly eight out of ten of the suspected incidents of human trafficking
were classified as sex trafficking, and about one out of ten incidents were classified as labor
trafficking; and
WHEREAS, the enforcement of the requirements that all persons employed in
Louisiana be of legal age for employment and be authorized to work in the United States will
allow less opportunity for illegal activity; and ENROLLEDHCR NO. 178
Page 2 of 2
WHEREAS, R.S. 23:152 requires the Louisiana Workforce Commission to visit and
inspect at all reasonable times, and as often as possible, all places where minors are
employed, for the enforcement of minor labor laws; and
WHEREAS, R.S. 23:995 requires the Louisiana Workforce Commission to enforce
the requirement that each employer verify the work authorization status of each employee;
and
WHEREAS, verification of age and work authorization status of each employee will
go far to ensure that workers are legally employed, which will help to curtail human
trafficking in legitimate businesses.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
urge and request the Louisiana Workforce Commission to enforce the laws relative to age
and work status verification to prevent human trafficking in Louisiana.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
executive director of the Louisiana Workforce Commission.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI VES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE