Combating Human Trafficking in Commercial Vehicles Act

Summary: Combating Human Trafficking in Commercial Vehicles Act (Sec. 2) This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to designate an official to: (1) coordinate human trafficking prevention efforts across DOT modal administrations and with other federal agencies, and (2) take into account the unique challenges of combating human trafficking within different transportation modes. (Sec. 3) The bill expands the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's outreach and education program and DOT's commercial driver's license financial assistance program to include activities for the recognition, prevention, and reporting of human trafficking. (Sec. 5) DOT shall establish an advisory committee on human trafficking. The committee shall: (1) make recommendations on actions DOT can take to help combat human trafficking, and (2) develop recommended best practices for states and state and local transportation stakeholders in combating human trafficking.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
    This Act may be cited as the ``Combating Human Trafficking in 
Commercial Vehicles Act''.
SEC. 2. HUMAN TRAFFICKING PREVENTION COORDINATOR.
    The Secretary of Transportation shall designate an official within 
the Department of Transportation who shall--
        (1) coordinate human trafficking prevention efforts across 
    modal administrations in the Department of Transportation and with 
    other departments and agencies of the Federal Government; and
        (2) in coordinating such efforts, take into account the unique 
    challenges of combating human trafficking within different 
    transportation modes.
SEC. 3. EXPANSION OF OUTREACH AND EDUCATION PROGRAM.
    Section 31110(c)(1) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following: ``The program authorized under this 
subsection may support, in addition to funds otherwise available for 
such purposes, the recognition, prevention, and reporting of human 
trafficking, while deferring to existing resources, as practicable.''.
SEC. 4. EXPANSION OF COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE 
PROGRAM.
    Section 31313(a)(3) of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
        (1) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``or'' at the end;
        (2) by redesignating subparagraph (E) as subparagraph (F); and
        (3) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following:
            ``(E) support, in addition to funds otherwise available for 
        such purposes, the recognition, prevention, and reporting of 
        human trafficking; or''.
SEC. 5. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY 
COMMITTEE ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
    (a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish an advisory 
committee on human trafficking.
    (b) Membership.--
        (1) Composition.--The Committee shall be composed of not more 
    than 15 external stakeholder members whose diverse experience and 
    background enable them to provide balanced points of view with 
    regard to carrying out the duties of the Committee.
        (2) Selection.--The Secretary shall appoint the external 
    stakeholder members to the Committee, including representatives 
    from--
            (A) trafficking advocacy organizations;
            (B) law enforcement; and
            (C) trucking, bus, rail, aviation, maritime, and port 
        sectors, including industry and labor.
        (3) Periods of appointment.--Members shall be appointed for the 
    life of the Committee.
        (4) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Committee shall be filled in 
    the manner in which the original appointment was made and shall not 
    affect the powers or duties of the Committee.
        (5) Compensation.--Committee members shall serve without 
    compensation.
    (c) Authority.--Not later than 9 months after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary shall establish and appoint all members of 
the Committee.
    (d) Duties.--
        (1) Recommendations for the department of transportation.--Not 
    later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
    Committee shall make recommendations to the Secretary on actions 
    the Department can take to help combat human trafficking, including 
    the development and implementation of--
            (A) successful strategies for identifying and reporting 
        instances of human trafficking; and
            (B) recommendations for administrative or legislative 
        changes necessary to use programs, properties, or other 
        resources owned, operated, or funded by the Department to 
        combat human trafficking.
        (2) Best practices and recommendations.--
            (A) In general.--The Committee shall develop recommended 
        best practices for States and State and local transportation 
        stakeholders to follow in combating human trafficking.
            (B) Development.--The best practices shall be based on 
        multidisciplinary research and promising, evidence-based models 
        and programs.
            (C) Content.--The best practices shall be user-friendly, 
        incorporate the most up-to-date technology, and include the 
        following:
                (i) Sample training materials.
                (ii) Strategies to identify victims.
                (iii) Sample protocols and recommendations, including--

                    (I) strategies to collect, document, and share data 
                across systems and agencies;
                    (II) strategies to help agencies better understand 
                the types of trafficking involved, the scope of the 
                problem, and the degree of victim interaction with 
                multiple systems; and
                    (III) strategies to identify effective pathways for 
                State agencies to utilize their position in educating 
                critical stakeholder groups and assisting victims.

            (D) Informing states of best practices.--The Secretary 
        shall ensure that State Governors and State departments of 
        transportation are notified of the best practices and 
        recommendations.
    (e) Reports.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary shall--
        (1) submit a report on the actions of the Committee described 
    in subsection (d) to--
            (A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
        of the Senate; and
            (B) the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
        the House of Representatives; and
        (2) make the report under paragraph (1) publicly available both 
    physically and online.
    (f) Definitions.--In this section:
        (1) Committee.--The term ``Committee'' means the Department of 
    Transportation Advisory Committee on Human Trafficking established 
    under subsection (a).
        (2) Human trafficking.--The term ``human trafficking'' means an 
    act or practice described in paragraph (9) or paragraph (10) of 
    section 103 of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 
    U.S.C. 7102).
        (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of 
    Transportation.

                               Speaker of the House of Representatives.

                            Vice President of the United States and    
                                               President of the Senate.