PUBLIC LAW 115–99—JAN. 3, 2018 

COMBATING HUMAN TRAFFICKING 

IN COMMERCIAL VEHICLES ACT 


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131 STAT. 2242 PUBLIC LAW 115–99—JAN. 3, 2018 

Public Law 115–99 

115th Congress 

An Act 

To designate a human trafficking prevention coordinator and to expand the scope 

of activities authorized under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s 

outreach and education program to include human trafficking prevention activities, 

and for other purposes. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 

the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

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’’. 

49 USC 102 note. 

Combating 

Human 

Trafficking in 

Commercial 

Vehicles Act. 

49 USC 30101 

note. 

Jan. 3, 2018 

[S. 1536] 


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PUBLIC LAW 115–99—JAN. 3, 2018 131 STAT. 2243 

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, evidencebased models and programs. 

(C) CONTENT.—The best practices shall be userfriendly, 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; 

Strategies. 

Strategies. 

Deadline. 

Deadline. 

Appointments. 


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131 STAT. 2244 PUBLIC LAW 115–99—JAN. 3, 2018 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 1536 (H.R. 3813): 

HOUSE REPORTS: No. 115–467 (Comm. on Transportation and Infrastructure) 

accompanying H.R. 3813. 

SENATE REPORTS: No. 115–177 (Comm. on Commerce, Science, and Transportation). 

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 163 (2017): 

Sept. 14, considered and passed Senate. 

Dec. 19, considered and passed House. 

Æ 

(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. 

Approved January 3, 2018. 

Public 

information. 

Web posting. 


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