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2021 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 170
BY SENATOR JOHNS
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
GOVERNOR. Provides relative to the creation of the office of human trafficking
prevention. (gov sig)
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 46:2161(C), 2161.1(A) and (C), 2165(A) and (B)(2) and (6),
3 2166(D), 2167(D), and Children's Code Art. 725.2(A)(1) and (B), to enact R.S.
4 36:4(J) and R.S. 46:2166(A)(18) and Part III of Chapter 28-B of Title 46 of the
5 Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, to be comprised of R.S. 46:2169-2169.1, and to
6 repeal R.S. 46:62, relative to human trafficking; to create the governor's office of
7 human trafficking prevention; to provide for powers and duties; to provide for an
8 executive director and other staff; to provide for budget oversight; and to provide for
9 related matters.
10 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
11 Section 1. R.S. 36:4(J) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
12 §4. Structure of executive branch of state government
13 * * *
14 J. The office of human trafficking prevention, as provided for in
15 R.S. 46:2169 et seq., shall be placed within the office of the governor and shall
16 exercise its powers, duties, and functions as provided by law. The Louisiana
17 Human Trafficking Prevention Commission and Advisory Board, as provided
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1 for in R.S. 46:2165 et seq., shall be placed within the office of human trafficking
2 prevention.
3 * * *
4 Section 2. R.S. 46:2161(C), 2161.1(A) and (C), 2165(A) and (B)(2) and (6),
5 2166(D), and 2167(D) are hereby amended and reenacted and R.S. 46:2166(A)(18) and Part
6 III of Chapter 28-B of Title 46 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, comprised of R.S.
7 46:2169-2169.1, are hereby enacted to read as follows:
8 §2161. Human trafficking victims services plan; children
9 * * *
10 C.(1) Each private entity that provides services to victims pursuant to the
11 provisions of this Section shall submit to the governor's office of human
12 trafficking prevention and to the Department of Children and Family Services an
13 annual report on their operations including information on the services offered,
14 geographic areas served, the number of persons served, and individual status updates
15 on each person served. This information shall not include the name, address, or other
16 identifying information of the person served. The Department of Children and
17 Family Services governor's office of human trafficking prevention shall compile
18 the data from all the reports submitted pursuant to the provisions of this Subsection
19 and shall provide this information to the legislature on or before the first day of
20 February each year.
21 (2) Each statewide and local law enforcement entity that investigates
22 cases of human trafficking or related sexual offenses and that provides services
23 to victims pursuant to the provisions of this Section shall submit to the
24 governor's office of human trafficking prevention and to the Department of
25 Children and Family Services an annual report on their operations including
26 information on type of investigation, outcome of the investigation, and any
27 services offered to victims, and demographic information related to the case and
28 services offered.
29 §2161.1. Human trafficking victims services plan; adults
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1 A. With respect to persons any person referred to the Department of
2 Children and Family Services who are is eighteen years of age or older and who are
3 is found to be victims a victim of human trafficking in which the services include
4 trafficking activity included commercial sexual activity or any sexual conduct
5 constituting a crime under the laws of this state, the department shall refer the person
6 to the appropriate department, agency, or entity to provide the person with the
7 following:
8 (1) Assist the victim Assistance in applying for federal and state benefits and
9 services to which the victim may be entitled.
10 (2) Coordinate Coordination of the delivery of health care, mental health
11 care, housing, education, job training, child care, victims' compensation, legal, and
12 other services available to victims of human or sex trafficking.
13 (3) Refer the victim Referral to the appropriate community-based services
14 to the extent that such services are available.
15 (4) Assist the victim Assistance with family reunification or returning to the
16 victim's place of origin, if the victim so desires.
17 * * *
18 C.(1) Each private entity that provides services to victims pursuant to the
19 provisions of this Section shall submit to the governor's office of human
20 trafficking prevention and to the Department of Children and Family Services an
21 annual report on their operations including information on the services offered,
22 geographic areas served, the number of persons served, and individual status updates
23 on each person served. This information shall not include the name, address, or other
24 identifying information of the person served. The Department of Children and
25 Family Services governor's office of human trafficking prevention shall compile
26 the data from all the reports submitted pursuant to the provisions of this Subsection
27 and shall provide this information to the legislature on or before the first day of
28 February each year.
29 (2) Each statewide and local law enforcement entity that investigates
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1 cases of human trafficking or related sexual offenses and that provides services
2 to victims pursuant to the provisions of this Section shall submit to the
3 governor's office of human trafficking prevention and to the Department of
4 Children and Family Services an annual report on their operations including
5 information on the type of investigation, outcome of the investigation, and any
6 services offered to victims, and demographic information related to the case and
7 services offered.
8 * * *
9 §2165. Louisiana Human Trafficking Prevention Commission
10 A. The Louisiana Human Trafficking Prevention Commission is hereby
11 created within the office of the governor and placed within the office of human
12 trafficking prevention.
13 B. The commission shall do the following:
14 * * *
15 (2) Conduct a continuing comprehensive review of all existing public and
16 private human trafficking victim assistance programs to identify gaps in prevention
17 and intervention services.
18 * * *
19 (6) Establish a method to transition human trafficking victim assistance
20 service providers toward evidence-based national best practices focusing on outreach
21 and prevention.
22 * * *
23 §2166. Composition of the commission
24 A. The commission shall be composed of the following members:
25 * * *
26 (18) The executive director of the governor's office of human trafficking
27 prevention.
28 * * *
29 D.(1) Each member shall be entitled to designate a single individual to serve
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1 as his proxy for the duration of the member's term to serve on any occasion that the
2 member is unable to attend a meeting of the commission. The term of the designated
3 proxy shall be the same as that of the member. A member appointing a designated
4 proxy shall make his appointment known to the chairperson and to the secretary of
5 the commission.
6 (2) The proxy appointed by a member shall not be subject to the same
7 nominating and appointment procedures as is that are required for the member for
8 whom he is serving.
9 (3) An No individual shall not serve as proxy pursuant to the provisions of
10 this Subsection for more than one member of the commission.
11 * * *
12 §2167. Meetings
13 * * *
14 D. The office of human trafficking prevention within the office of the
15 governor shall provide to the commission such clerical, administrative, and technical
16 assistance and support as may be necessary to enable the commission to accomplish
17 its goals.
18 * * *
19 PART III. OFFICE OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING PREVENTION
20 §2169. Office of human trafficking prevention
21 A. The office of human trafficking prevention is hereby created within
22 the office of the governor for the purpose of coordinating resources of public
23 and private entities that develop, manage, operate, and support services and
24 programs for human trafficking victims. The office shall exercise the powers
25 and duties provided in this Part or otherwise provided by law.
26 B. The office shall be administered by an executive director who shall be
27 appointed by the governor, subject to confirmation by the Senate, to serve at his
28 pleasure.
29 C. The executive director shall employ necessary staff to carry out the
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1 duties and functions of the office as provided in this Part or as otherwise
2 provided by law.
3 §2169.1. Powers and duties
4 The office shall have the following powers and duties:
5 (1) To collect all relevant information including facts and statistics
6 related to human trafficking.
7 (2) To conduct studies of human trafficking activity in Louisiana.
8 (3) To identify and make available to the public and government
9 agencies the latest developments related to human trafficking activities and the
10 prevention thereof in Louisiana and throughout the nation.
11 (4) To advise state agencies and other stakeholders on best practices for
12 combating human trafficking in the state.
13 (5) To develop and implement a comprehensive strategic plan to address
14 the needs of human trafficking victims.
15 (6) To assist state agencies in reducing duplication of effort in the
16 provision of services to human trafficking victims.
17 (7) To monitor availability of funds from federal and other sources for
18 financing the provision of services to and programs for human trafficking
19 victims.
20 (8) To assist state departments and agencies and other stakeholders in
21 drafting plans to maximize the impact of the use of such funds.
22 (9) To maintain a current list of public and private stakeholders
23 providing services to and programs for human trafficking victims.
24 (10) To monitor and evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of
25 programs that provide services to and programs for human trafficking victims.
26 (11) To provide the leadership and clerical, administrative, and technical
27 assistance and support necessary for the Louisiana Human Trafficking
28 Prevention Commission and the Human Trafficking Prevention Commission
29 Advisory Board to fulfill their duties.
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1 (12) To create and submit reports as required by law.
2 (13) To compile and submit data to the legislature as provided by law.
3 (14) To perform all functions reasonably necessary to accomplish the
4 purposes for which the office is created.
5 Section 3. Children's Code Art. 725.2(A)(1) and (B) are hereby amended and
6 reenacted to read as follows:
7 Art. 725.2. Safe house for sexually exploited children
8 A.(1) The department shall identify and maintain a current listing of safe
9 houses which are licensed residential homes that specialize in the provision of
10 services to sexually exploited children, regardless of whether those facilities receive
11 taxpayer funding. This listing shall be made available to the governor's office of
12 human trafficking prevention and to courts, prosecutors, and other stakeholders
13 involved in proceedings pertaining to an exploited child.
14 * * *
15 B. Each safe house listed with the department to provide services to sexually
16 exploited children pursuant to the provisions of this Article shall submit to the
17 governor's office of human trafficking prevention and to the department an
18 annual report on their operations including information on the services offered,
19 geographic areas served, number of children served, and individual status updates
20 on each child served. This information shall not include the name, address, or other
21 identifying information of the child served. The department governor's office of
22 human trafficking prevention shall compile the data from all the reports submitted
23 by each safe house pursuant to the provisions of this Article and shall provide this
24 information in an annual report to the legislature on or before the first day of
25 February each year.
26 Section 4. R.S. 46:62 is hereby repealed.
27 Section 5. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
28 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
29 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
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1 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
2 effective on the day following such approval.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by LG Sullivan.
DIGEST
SB 170 Original 2021 Regular Session Johns
Present law provides for the crime of human trafficking. Makes it unlawful to use another
person to provide any labor or service having economic value through fraud, force, or
coercion or to facilitate or benefit from the prohibited activities. If the victim is under age
21 and providing some commercial sexual activity, the use of fraud, force, or coercion is not
necessary.
Present law provides for human trafficking victims services plans for children and adults.
Creates the 17-member La. Human Trafficking Prevention Commission (commission) in the
office of the governor and a 23-member advisory board for the purpose of coordinating
human trafficking prevention programs and integrating delivery of services to human
trafficking victims.
Proposed law retains present law and, effective July 1, 2021, creates the office of human
trafficking prevention (OHTP) in the governor's office for the purpose of coordinating
resources of public and private entities engaged in providing assistance to human trafficking
victims. Places the commission within OHTP.
Proposed law provides for an executive director of OHTP appointed by the governor and
confirmed by the Senate. Adds the executive director to the commission. Provides for the
executive director to employ necessary staff.
Present law requires DCFS to make a current listing of safe houses for sexually exploited
children available to courts, prosecutors, and other stakeholders.
Proposed law requires the list to be made available to OHTP as well.
Present law requires each private entity providing victims services pursuant to present law
and each safe house to submit annual reports to the Department of Children and Family
Services (DCFS). Requires DCFS to compile data from the reports and provide the data to
the legislature by February first.
Proposed law requires reports to be submitted to OHTP as well as DCFS. Moves the
requirement for data compilation and transmission to the legislature from DCFS to OHTP.
Present law requires DCFS to create a coalition to develop a human trafficking victim
services delivery model, giving consideration to the recommendations of and collaborating
with the commission and advisory board.
Proposed law repeals present law.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 46:2161(C), 2161.1(A) and (C), 2165(A) and (B)(2) and (6), 2166(D),
2167(D), and Children's Code Art. 725.2(A)(1) and (B); adds R.S. 36:4(J) and R.S.
46:2166(A)(18) and 2169-2169.1; repeals R.S. 46:62)
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