PUBLIC LAW 114–22—MAY 29, 2015 129 STAT. 227 

Public Law 114–22 

114th Congress 

An Act 

To provide justice for the victims of trafficking. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 

the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Justice for 

Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015’’. 

(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for this Act 

is as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 

TITLE I—JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING 

Sec. 101. Domestic Trafficking Victims’ Fund. 

Sec. 102. Clarifying the benefits and protections offered to domestic victims of 

human trafficking. 

Sec. 103. Victim-centered child human trafficking deterrence block grant program. 

Sec. 104. Direct services for victims of child pornography. 

Sec. 105. Increasing compensation and restitution for trafficking victims. 

Sec. 106. Streamlining human trafficking investigations. 

Sec. 107. Enhancing human trafficking reporting. 

Sec. 108. Reducing demand for sex trafficking. 

Sec. 109. Sense of Congress. 

Sec. 110. Using existing task forces and components to target offenders who exploit 

children. 

Sec. 111. Targeting child predators. 

Sec. 112. Monitoring all human traffickers as violent criminals. 

Sec. 113. Crime victims’ rights. 

Sec. 114. Combat Human Trafficking Act. 

Sec. 115. Survivors of Human Trafficking Empowerment Act. 

Sec. 116. Bringing Missing Children Home Act. 

Sec. 117. Grant accountability. 

Sec. 118. SAVE Act. 

Sec. 119. Education and outreach to trafficking survivors. 

Sec. 120. Expanded statute of limitations for civil actions by child trafficking survivors. 

Sec. 121. GAO study and report. 

TITLE II—COMBATING HUMAN TRAFFICKING 

Subtitle A—Enhancing Services for Runaway and Homeless Victims of Youth 

Trafficking 

Sec. 201. Amendments to the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act. 

Subtitle B—Improving the Response to Victims of Child Sex Trafficking 

Sec. 211. Response to victims of child sex trafficking. 

Subtitle C—Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking 

Sec. 221. Victim of trafficking defined. 

Sec. 222. Interagency task force report on child trafficking primary prevention. 

Sec. 223. GAO Report on intervention. 

Sec. 224. Provision of housing permitted to protect and assist in the recovery of victims of trafficking. 

18 USC 1 note. 

Justice for 

Victims of 

Trafficking Act 

of 2015. 

May 29, 2015 

[S. 178] 


dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with PUBLAWS
129 STAT. 228 PUBLIC LAW 114–22—MAY 29, 2015 

Subtitle D—Expanded Training 

Sec. 231. Expanded training relating to trafficking in persons. 

TITLE III—HERO ACT 

Sec. 301. Short title. 

Sec. 302. HERO Act. 

Sec. 303. Transportation for illegal sexual activity and related crimes. 

TITLE IV—RAPE SURVIVOR CHILD CUSTODY 

Sec. 401. Short title. 

Sec. 402. Definitions. 

Sec. 403. Findings. 

Sec. 404. Increased funding for formula grants authorized. 

Sec. 405. Application. 

Sec. 406. Grant increase. 

Sec. 407. Period of increase. 

Sec. 408. Allocation of increased formula grant funds. 

Sec. 409. Authorization of appropriations. 

TITLE V—MILITARY SEX OFFENDER REPORTING 

Sec. 501. Short title. 

Sec. 502. Registration of sex offenders released from military corrections facilities 

or upon conviction. 

TITLE VI—STOPPING EXPLOITATION THROUGH TRAFFICKING 

Sec. 601. Safe Harbor Incentives. 

Sec. 602. Report on restitution paid in connection with certain trafficking offenses. 

Sec. 603. National human trafficking hotline. 

Sec. 604. Job corps eligibility. 

Sec. 605. Clarification of authority of the United States Marshals Service. 

Sec. 606. Establishing a national strategy to combat human trafficking. 

TITLE VII—TRAFFICKING AWARENESS TRAINING FOR HEALTH CARE 

Sec. 701. Short title. 

Sec. 702. Development of best practices. 

Sec. 703. Definitions. 

Sec. 704. No additional authorization of appropriations. 

TITLE VIII—BETTER RESPONSE FOR VICTIMS OF CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING 

Sec. 801. Short title. 

Sec. 802. CAPTA amendments. 

TITLE IX—ANTI-TRAFFICKING TRAINING FOR DEPARTMENT OF 

HOMELAND SECURITY PERSONNEL 

Sec. 901. Definitions. 

Sec. 902. Training for Department personnel to identify human trafficking. 

Sec. 903. Certification and report to Congress. 

Sec. 904. Assistance to non-Federal entities. 

Sec. 905. Expanded use of Domestic Trafficking Victims’ Fund. 

TITLE X—HUMAN TRAFFICKING SURVIVORS RELIEF AND EMPOWERMENT 

ACT 

Sec. 1001. Short title. 

Sec. 1002. Protections for human trafficking survivors. 

TITLE I—JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS OF 

TRAFFICKING 

SEC. 101. DOMESTIC TRAFFICKING VICTIMS’ FUND. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 201 of title 18, United States Code, 

is amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘§ 3014. Additional special assessment 

‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Beginning on the date of enactment of the 

Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015 and ending on September 30, 2019, in addition to the assessment imposed underTime period. 

18 USC 3014. 


dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with PUBLAWS
PUBLIC LAW 114–22—MAY 29, 2015 129 STAT. 229 

section 3013, the court shall assess an amount of $5,000 on any 

non-indigent person or entity convicted of an offense under— 

‘‘(1) chapter 77 (relating to peonage, slavery, and trafficking 

in persons); 

‘‘(2) chapter 109A (relating to sexual abuse); 

‘‘(3) chapter 110 (relating to sexual exploitation and other 

abuse of children); 

‘‘(4) chapter 117 (relating to transportation for illegal sexual 

activity and related crimes); or 

‘‘(5) section 274 of the Immigration and Nationality Act 

(8 U.S.C. 1324) (relating to human smuggling), unless the person induced, assisted, abetted, or aided only an individual 

who at the time of such action was the alien’s spouse, parent, 

son, or daughter (and no other individual) to enter the United 

States in violation of law. 

‘‘(b) SATISFACTION OF OTHER COURT-ORDERED OBLIGATIONS.— An assessment under subsection (a) shall not be payable until 

the person subject to the assessment has satisfied all outstanding 

court-ordered fines, orders of restitution, and any other obligation 

related to victim-compensation arising from the criminal convictions 

on which the special assessment is based. 

‘‘(c) ESTABLISHMENT OF DOMESTIC TRAFFICKING VICTIMS’ 

FUND.—There is established in the Treasury of the United States 

a fund, to be known as the ‘Domestic Trafficking Victims’ Fund’ 

(referred to in this section as the ‘Fund’), to be administered by 

the Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of Health and Human Services. 

‘‘(d) TRANSFERS.—In a manner consistent with section 3302(b) 

of title 31, there shall be transferred to the Fund from the General 

Fund of the Treasury an amount equal to the amount of the 

assessments collected under this section, which shall remain available until expended. 

‘‘(e) USE OF FUNDS.— 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—From amounts in the Fund, in addition 

to any other amounts available, and without further appropriation, the Attorney General, in coordination with the Secretary 

of Health and Human Services shall, for each of fiscal years 

2016 through 2019, use amounts available in the Fund to 

award grants or enhance victims’ programming under— 

‘‘(A) section 204 of the Trafficking Victims Protection 

Reauthorization Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 14044c); 

‘‘(B) subsections (b)(2) and (f) of section 107 of the 

Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7105); 

and 

‘‘(C) section 214(b) of the Victims of Child Abuse Act 

of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 13002(b)). 

‘‘(2) LIMITATION.—Except as provided in subsection (h)(2), 

none of the amounts in the Fund may be used to provide 

health care or medical items or services. 

‘‘(f) COLLECTION METHOD.—The amount assessed under subsection (a) shall, subject to subsection (b), be collected in the manner 

that fines are collected in criminal cases. 

‘‘(g) DURATION OF OBLIGATION.—Subject to section 3613(b), the 

obligation to pay an assessment imposed on or after the date 

of enactment of the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015 

shall not cease until the assessment is paid in full. 

‘‘(h) HEALTH OR MEDICAL SERVICES.— 

Coordination. 

Grants. 


dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with PUBLAWS
129 STAT. 230 PUBLIC LAW 114–22—MAY 29, 2015 

‘‘(1) TRANSFER OF FUNDS.—From amounts appropriated 

under section 10503(b)(1)(E) of the Patient Protection and 

Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 254b–2(b)(1)(E)), as amended 

by section 221 of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015, there shall be transferred to the Fund an 

amount equal to the amount transferred under subsection (d) 

for each fiscal year, except that the amount transferred under 

this paragraph shall not be less than $5,000,000 or more than 

$30,000,000 in each such fiscal year, and such amounts shall 

remain available until expended. 

‘‘(2) USE OF FUNDS.—The Attorney General, in coordination 

with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall use 

amounts transferred to the Fund under paragraph (1) to award 

grants that may be used for the provision of health care or 

medical items or services to victims of trafficking under— 

‘‘(A) sections 202, 203, and 204 of the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 

14044a, 14044b, and 14044c); 

‘‘(B) subsections (b)(2) and (f) of section 107 of the 

Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7105); 

and 

‘‘(C) section 214(b) of the Victims of Child Abuse Act 

of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 13002(b)). 

‘‘(3) GRANTS.—Of the amounts in the Fund used under 

paragraph (1), not less than $2,000,000, if such amounts are 

available in the Fund during the relevant fiscal year, shall 

be used for grants to provide services for child pornography 

victims under section 214(b) of the Victims of Child Abuse 

Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 13002(b)). 

‘‘(4) APPLICATION OF PROVISION.—The application of the 

provisions of section 221(c) of the Medicare Access and CHIP 

Reauthorization Act of 2015 shall continue to apply to the 

amounts transferred pursuant to paragraph (1).’’. 

(b) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of 

sections for chapter 201 of title 18, United States Code, is amended 

by inserting after the item relating to section 3013 the following: 

‘‘3014. Additional special assessment.’’. 

SEC. 102. CLARIFYING THE BENEFITS AND PROTECTIONS OFFERED 

TO DOMESTIC VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING. 

Section 107(b)(1) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 

2000 (22 U.S.C. 7105(b)(1)) is amended— 

(1) by redesignating subparagraphs (F) and (G) as subparagraphs (G) and (H), respectively; 

(2) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the following: 

‘‘(F) NO REQUIREMENT OF OFFICIAL CERTIFICATION FOR

UNITED STATES CITIZENS AND LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENTS.—Nothing in this section may be construed to 

require United States citizens or lawful permanent residents who are victims of severe forms of trafficking to 

obtain an official certification from the Secretary of Health 

and Human Services in order to access any of the specialized services described in this subsection or any other 

Federal benefits and protections to which they are otherwise entitled.’’; and 

(3) in subparagraph (H), as redesignated, by striking 

‘‘subparagraph (F)’’ and inserting ‘‘subparagraph (G)’’. 

18 USC 

prec. 3001. 

Children and 

youth. 

Pornography. 

Coordination. 

Grants. 


dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with PUBLAWS
PUBLIC LAW 114–22—MAY 29, 2015 129 STAT. 231 

SEC. 103. VICTIM-CENTERED CHILD HUMAN TRAFFICKING DETERRENCE BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 203 of the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 14044b) is amended 

to read as follows: 

‘‘SEC. 203. VICTIM-CENTERED CHILD HUMAN TRAFFICKING DETERRENCE BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM. 

‘‘(a) GRANTS AUTHORIZED.—The Attorney General may award 

block grants to an eligible entity to develop, improve, or expand 

domestic child human trafficking deterrence programs that assist 

law enforcement officers, prosecutors, judicial officials, and qualified 

victims’ services organizations in collaborating to rescue and restore 

the lives of victims, while investigating and prosecuting offenses 

involving child human trafficking. 

‘‘(b) AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.—Grants awarded under subsection (a) may be used for— 

‘‘(1) the establishment or enhancement of specialized 

training programs for law enforcement officers, first responders, 

health care officials, child welfare officials, juvenile justice personnel, prosecutors, and judicial personnel to— 

‘‘(A) identify victims and acts of child human trafficking; 

‘‘(B) address the unique needs of child victims of human 

trafficking; 

‘‘(C) facilitate the rescue of child victims of human 

trafficking; 

‘‘(D) investigate and prosecute acts of human trafficking, including the soliciting, patronizing, or purchasing 

of commercial sex acts from children, as well as training 

to build cases against complex criminal networks involved 

in child human trafficking; and 

‘‘(E) utilize, implement, and provide education on safe 

harbor laws enacted by States, aimed at preventing the 

criminalization and prosecution of child sex trafficking victims for prostitution offenses, and other laws aimed at 

the investigation and prosecution of child human trafficking; 

‘‘(2) the establishment or enhancement of dedicated antitrafficking law enforcement units and task forces to investigate 

child human trafficking offenses and to rescue victims, 

including— 

‘‘(A) funding salaries, in whole or in part, for law 

enforcement officers, including patrol officers, detectives, 

and investigators, except that the percentage of the salary 

of the law enforcement officer paid for by funds from a 

grant awarded under this section shall not be more than 

the percentage of the officer’s time on duty that is dedicated 

to working on cases involving child human trafficking; 

‘‘(B) investigation expenses for cases involving child 

human trafficking, including— 

‘‘(i) wire taps; 

‘‘(ii) consultants with expertise specific to cases 

involving child human trafficking; 

‘‘(iii) travel; and 

‘‘(iv) other technical assistance expenditures; 


dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with PUBLAWS
129 STAT. 232 PUBLIC LAW 114–22—MAY 29, 2015 

‘‘(C) dedicated anti-trafficking prosecution units, 

including the funding of salaries for State and local 

prosecutors, including assisting in paying trial expenses 

for prosecution of child human trafficking offenders, except 

that the percentage of the total salary of a State or local 

prosecutor that is paid using an award under this section 

shall be not more than the percentage of the total number 

of hours worked by the prosecutor that is spent working 

on cases involving child human trafficking; 

‘‘(D) the establishment of child human trafficking 

victim witness safety, assistance, and relocation programs 

that encourage cooperation with law enforcement investigations of crimes of child human trafficking by leveraging 

existing resources and delivering child human trafficking 

victims’ services through coordination with— 

‘‘(i) child advocacy centers; 

‘‘(ii) social service agencies; 

‘‘(iii) State governmental health service agencies; 

‘‘(iv) housing agencies; 

‘‘(v) legal services agencies; and 

‘‘(vi) nongovernmental organizations and shelter 

service providers with substantial experience in delivering wrap-around services to victims of child human 

trafficking; and 

‘‘(E) the establishment or enhancement of other necessary victim assistance programs or personnel, such as 

victim or child advocates, child-protective services, child 

forensic interviews, or other necessary service providers; 

‘‘(3) activities of law enforcement agencies to find homeless 

and runaway youth, including salaries and associated expenses 

for retired Federal law enforcement officers assisting the law 

enforcement agencies in finding homeless and runaway youth; 

and 

‘‘(4) the establishment or enhancement of problem solving 

court programs for trafficking victims that include— 

‘‘(A) mandatory and regular training requirements for 

judicial officials involved in the administration or operation 

of the court program described under this paragraph; 

‘‘(B) continuing judicial supervision of victims of child 

human trafficking, including case worker or child welfare 

supervision in collaboration with judicial officers, who have 

been identified by a law enforcement or judicial officer 

as a potential victim of child human trafficking, regardless 

of whether the victim has been charged with a crime related 

to human trafficking; 

‘‘(C) the development of a specialized and individualized, court-ordered treatment program for identified victims 

of child human trafficking, including— 

‘‘(i) State-administered outpatient treatment; 

‘‘(ii) life skills training; 

‘‘(iii) housing placement; 

‘‘(iv) vocational training; 

‘‘(v) education; 

‘‘(vi) family support services; and 

‘‘(vii) job placement; 

‘‘(D) centralized case management involving the 

consolidation of all of each child human trafficking victim’s 


dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with PUBLAWS
PUBLIC LAW 114–22—MAY 29, 2015 129 STAT. 233 

cases and offenses, and the coordination of all trafficking 

victim treatment programs and social services; 

‘‘(E) regular and mandatory court appearances by the 

victim during the duration of the treatment program for 

purposes of ensuring compliance and effectiveness; 

‘‘(F) the ultimate dismissal of relevant non-violent 

criminal charges against the victim, where such victim 

successfully complies with the terms of the court-ordered 

treatment program; and 

‘‘(G) collaborative efforts with child advocacy centers, 

child welfare agencies, shelters, and nongovernmental 

organizations with substantial experience in delivering 

wrap-around services to victims of child human trafficking 

to provide services to victims and encourage cooperation 

with law enforcement. 

‘‘(c) APPLICATION.— 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—An eligible entity shall submit an 

application to the Attorney General for a grant under this 

section in such form and manner as the Attorney General 

may require. 

‘‘(2) REQUIRED INFORMATION.—An application submitted 

under this subsection shall— 

‘‘(A) describe the activities for which assistance under 

this section is sought; 

‘‘(B) include a detailed plan for the use of funds 

awarded under the grant; 

‘‘(C) provide such additional information and assurances as the Attorney General determines to be necessary 

to ensure compliance with the requirements of this section; 

and 

‘‘(D) disclose— 

‘‘(i) any other grant funding from the Department 

of Justice or from any other Federal department or 

agency for purposes similar to those described in subsection (b) for which the eligible entity has applied, 

and which application is pending on the date of the 

submission of an application under this section; and 

‘‘(ii) any other such grant funding that the eligible 

entity has received during the 5-year period ending 

on the date of the submission of an application under 

this section. 

‘‘(3) PREFERENCE.—In reviewing applications submitted in 

accordance with paragraphs (1) and (2), the Attorney General 

shall give preference to grant applications if— 

‘‘(A) the application includes a plan to use awarded 

funds to engage in all activities described under paragraphs 

(1) through (3) of subsection (b); or 

‘‘(B) the application includes a plan by the State or 

unit of local government to continue funding of all activities 

funded by the award after the expiration of the award. 

‘‘(4) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES SOLICITING DATA ON CHILD HUMAN

TRAFFICKING.—No eligible entity shall be disadvantaged in 

being awarded a grant under subsection (a) on the grounds 

that the eligible entity has only recently begun soliciting data 

on child human trafficking. 

‘‘(d) DURATION AND RENEWAL OF AWARD.— 

Time period. 

Plans. 


dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with PUBLAWS
129 STAT. 234 PUBLIC LAW 114–22—MAY 29, 2015 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A grant under this section shall expire 

3 years after the date of award of the grant. 

‘‘(2) RENEWAL.—A grant under this section shall be renewable not more than 2 times and for a period of not greater 

than 2 years. 

‘‘(e) EVALUATION.—The Attorney General shall— 

‘‘(1) enter into a contract with a nongovernmental organization, including an academic or nonprofit organization, that has 

experience with issues related to child human trafficking and 

evaluation of grant programs to conduct periodic evaluations 

of grants made under this section to determine the impact 

and effectiveness of programs funded with grants awarded 

under this section; 

‘‘(2) instruct the Inspector General of the Department of 

Justice to review evaluations issued under paragraph (1) to 

determine the methodological and statistical validity of the 

evaluations; and 

‘‘(3) submit the results of any evaluation conducted pursuant to paragraph (1) to— 

‘‘(A) the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate; 

and 

‘‘(B) the Committee on the Judiciary of the House 

of Representatives. 

‘‘(f) MANDATORY EXCLUSION.—An eligible entity awarded funds 

under this section that is found to have used grant funds for 

any unauthorized expenditure or otherwise unallowable cost shall 

not be eligible for any grant funds awarded under the block grant 

for 2 fiscal years following the year in which the unauthorized 

expenditure or unallowable cost is reported. 

‘‘(g) COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENT.—An eligible entity shall not 

be eligible to receive a grant under this section if within the 5 

fiscal years before submitting an application for a grant under 

this section, the grantee has been found to have violated the terms 

or conditions of a Government grant program by utilizing grant 

funds for unauthorized expenditures or otherwise unallowable costs. 

‘‘(h) ADMINISTRATIVE CAP.—The cost of administering the grants 

authorized by this section shall not exceed 5 percent of the total 

amount expended to carry out this section. 

‘‘(i) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share of the cost of a program funded by a grant awarded under this section shall be— 

‘‘(1) 70 percent in the first year; 

‘‘(2) 60 percent in the second year; and 

‘‘(3) 50 percent in the third year, and in all subsequent 

years. 

‘‘(j) AUTHORIZATION OF FUNDING; FULLY OFFSET.—For purposes 

of carrying out this section, the Attorney General, in consultation 

with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, is authorized 

to award not more than $7,000,000 of the funds available in the 

Domestic Trafficking Victims’ Fund, established under section 3014 

of title 18, United States Code, for each of fiscal years 2016 through 

2020. 

‘‘(k) DEFINITIONS.—In this section— 

‘‘(1) the term ‘child’ means a person under the age of 

18; 

‘‘(2) the term ‘child advocacy center’ means a center created 

under subtitle A of the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990 

(42 U.S.C. 13001 et seq.); 

Consultation. 

Time period. 

Time period. 

Contracts. 

Time period. 

Expiration date. 


dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with PUBLAWS
PUBLIC LAW 114–22—MAY 29, 2015 129 STAT. 235 

‘‘(3) the term ‘child human trafficking’ means 1 or more 

severe forms of trafficking in persons (as defined in section 

103 of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 

7102)) involving a victim who is a child; and 

‘‘(4) the term ‘eligible entity’ means a State or unit of 

local government that— 

‘‘(A) has significant criminal activity involving child 

human trafficking; 

‘‘(B) has demonstrated cooperation between Federal, 

State, local, and, where applicable, tribal law enforcement 

agencies, prosecutors, and social service providers in 

addressing child human trafficking; 

‘‘(C) has developed a workable, multi-disciplinary plan 

to combat child human trafficking, including— 

‘‘(i) the establishment of a shelter for victims of 

child human trafficking, through existing or new facilities; 

‘‘(ii) the provision of trauma-informed, genderresponsive rehabilitative care to victims of child human 

trafficking; 

‘‘(iii) the provision of specialized training for law 

enforcement officers and social service providers for 

all forms of human trafficking, with a focus on domestic 

child human trafficking; 

‘‘(iv) prevention, deterrence, and prosecution of 

offenses involving child human trafficking, including 

soliciting, patronizing, or purchasing human acts with 

children; 

‘‘(v) cooperation or referral agreements with 

organizations providing outreach or other related services to runaway and homeless youth; 

‘‘(vi) law enforcement protocols or procedures to 

screen all individuals arrested for prostitution, whether 

adult or child, for victimization by sex trafficking and 

by other crimes, such as sexual assault and domestic 

violence; and 

‘‘(vii) cooperation or referral agreements with State 

child welfare agencies and child advocacy centers; and 

‘‘(D) provides an assurance that, under the plan under 

subparagraph (C), a victim of child human trafficking shall 

not be required to collaborate with law enforcement officers 

to have access to any shelter or services provided with 

a grant under this section. 

‘‘(l) GRANT ACCOUNTABILITY; SPECIALIZED VICTIMS’ SERVICE

REQUIREMENT.—No grant funds under this section may be awarded 

or transferred to any entity unless such entity has demonstrated 

substantial experience providing services to victims of human trafficking or related populations (such as runaway and homeless 

youth), or employs staff specialized in the treatment of human 

trafficking victims.’’. 

(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents in section 1(b) 

of the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005 


dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with PUBLAWS
129 STAT. 236 PUBLIC LAW 114–22—MAY 29, 2015 

(22 U.S.C. 7101 note) is amended by striking the item relating 

to section 203 and inserting the following: 

‘‘Sec. 203. Victim-centered child human trafficking deterrence block grant program.’’. 

SEC. 104. DIRECT SERVICES FOR VICTIMS OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY. 

The Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 13001 

et seq.) is amended— 

(1) in section 212(5) (42 U.S.C. 13001a(5)), by inserting 

‘‘, including human trafficking and the production of child 

pornography’’ before the semicolon at the end; and 

(2) in section 214 (42 U.S.C. 13002)— 

(A) by redesignating subsections (b), (c), and (d) as 

subsections (c), (d), and (e), respectively; and 

(B) by inserting after subsection (a) the following: 

‘‘(b) DIRECT SERVICES FOR VICTIMS OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY.— The Administrator, in coordination with the Director and with 

the Director of the Office of Victims of Crime, may make grants 

to develop and implement specialized programs to identify and 

provide direct services to victims of child pornography.’’. 

SEC. 105. INCREASING COMPENSATION AND RESTITUTION FOR TRAFFICKING VICTIMS. 

(a) AMENDMENTS TO TITLE 18.—Section 1594 of title 18, United 

States Code, is amended— 

(1) in subsection (d)— 

(A) in paragraph (1)— 

(i) by striking ‘‘that was used or’’ and inserting 

‘‘that was involved in, used, or’’; and 

(ii) by inserting ‘‘, and any property traceable to 

such property’’ after ‘‘such violation’’; and 

(B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘, or any property 

traceable to such property’’ after ‘‘such violation’’; 

(2) in subsection (e)(1)(A)— 

(A) by striking ‘‘used or’’ and inserting ‘‘involved in, 

used, or’’; and 

(B) by inserting ‘‘, and any property traceable to such 

property’’ after ‘‘any violation of this chapter’’; 

(3) by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (g); and 

(4) by inserting after subsection (e) the following: 

‘‘(f) TRANSFER OF FORFEITED ASSETS.— 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provision of 

law, the Attorney General shall transfer assets forfeited pursuant to this section, or the proceeds derived from the sale thereof, 

to satisfy victim restitution orders arising from violations of 

this chapter. 

‘‘(2) PRIORITY.—Transfers pursuant to paragraph (1) shall 

have priority over any other claims to the assets or their 

proceeds. 

‘‘(3) USE OF NONFORFEITED ASSETS.—Transfers pursuant 

to paragraph (1) shall not reduce or otherwise mitigate the 

obligation of a person convicted of a violation of this chapter 

to satisfy the full amount of a restitution order through the 

use of non-forfeited assets or to reimburse the Attorney General 

for the value of assets or proceeds transferred under this subsection through the use of nonforfeited assets.’’. 

Coordination. 


dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with PUBLAWS
PUBLIC LAW 114–22—MAY 29, 2015 129 STAT. 237 

(b) AMENDMENT TO TITLE 28.—Section 524(c)(1)(B) of title 28, 

United States Code, is amended by inserting ‘‘chapter 77 of title 

18,’’ after ‘‘criminal drug laws of the United States or of’’. 

(c) AMENDMENTS TO TITLE 31.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 97 of title 31, United States 

Code, is amended— 

(A) by redesignating section 9703 (as added by section 

638(b)(1) of the Treasury, Postal Service, and General 

Government Appropriations Act, 1993 (Public Law 102– 

393; 106 Stat. 1779)) as section 9705; and 

(B) in section 9705(a), as redesignated— 

(i) in paragraph (1)— 

(I) in subparagraph (I)— 

(aa) by striking ‘‘payment’’ and inserting 

‘‘Payment’’; and 

(bb) by striking the semicolon at the end 

and inserting a period; and 

(II) in subparagraph (J), by striking ‘‘payment’’ 

and inserting ‘‘Payment’’; and 

(ii) in paragraph (2)— 

(I) in subparagraph (B)— 

(aa) in clause (iii)— 

(AA) in subclause (I), by striking ‘‘or’’ 

and inserting ‘‘of’’; and 

(BB) in subclause (III), by striking 

‘‘and’’ at the end; 

(bb) in clause (iv), by striking the period 

at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

(cc) by inserting after clause (iv) the following: 

‘‘(v) United States Immigration and Customs 

Enforcement with respect to a violation of chapter 

77 of title 18 (relating to human trafficking);’’; 

(II) in subparagraph (G), by adding ‘‘and’’ at 

the end; and 

(III) in subparagraph (H), by striking ‘‘; and’’ 

and inserting a period. 

(2) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 

(A) CROSS REFERENCES.— 

(i) TITLE 28.—Section 524(c) of title 28, United 

States Code, is amended— 

(I) in paragraph (4)(C), by striking ‘‘section 

9703(g)(4)(A)(ii)’’ and inserting ‘‘section 

9705(g)(4)(A)’’; 

(II) in paragraph (10), by striking ‘‘section 

9703(p)’’ and inserting ‘‘section 9705(o)’’; and 

(III) in paragraph (11), by striking ‘‘section 

9703’’ and inserting ‘‘section 9705’’. 

(ii) TITLE 31.—Title 31, United States Code, is 

amended— 

(I) in section 312(d), by striking ‘‘section 9703’’ 

and inserting ‘‘section 9705’’; and 

(II) in section 5340(1), by striking ‘‘section 

9703(p)(1)’’ and inserting ‘‘section 9705(o)’’. 

(iii) TITLE 39.—Section 2003(e)(1) of title 39, United 

States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘section 9703(p)’’ 

and inserting ‘‘section 9705(o)’’. 


dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with PUBLAWS
129 STAT. 238 PUBLIC LAW 114–22—MAY 29, 2015 

(B) TABLE OF SECTIONS.—The table of sections for 

chapter 97 of title 31, United States Code, is amended 

to read as follows: 

‘‘9701. Fees and charges for Government services and things of value. 

‘‘9702. Investment of trust funds. 

‘‘9703. Managerial accountability and flexibility. 

‘‘9704. Pilot projects for managerial accountability and flexibility. 

‘‘9705. Department of the Treasury Forfeiture Fund.’’. 

SEC. 106. STREAMLINING HUMAN TRAFFICKING INVESTIGATIONS. 

Section 2516 of title 18, United States Code, is amended— 

(1) in paragraph (1)— 

(A) in subparagraph (a), by inserting a comma after 

‘‘weapons)’’; 

(B) in subparagraph (c)— 

(i) by inserting ‘‘section 1581 (peonage), section 

1584 (involuntary servitude), section 1589 (forced 

labor), section 1590 (trafficking with respect to peonage, slavery, involuntary servitude, or forced labor),’’ 

before ‘‘section 1591’’; 

(ii) by inserting ‘‘section 1592 (unlawful conduct 

with respect to documents in furtherance of trafficking, 

peonage, slavery, involuntary servitude, or forced 

labor),’’ before ‘‘section 1751’’; 

(iii) by inserting a comma after ‘‘virus)’’; 

(iv) by striking ‘‘,, section’’ and inserting a comma; 

(v) by striking ‘‘or’’ after ‘‘misuse of passports),’’; 

and 

(vi) by inserting ‘‘or’’ before ‘‘section 555’’; 

(C) in subparagraph (j), by striking ‘‘pipeline,)’’ and 

inserting ‘‘pipeline),’’; and 

(D) in subparagraph (p), by striking ‘‘documents, section 1028A (relating to aggravated identity theft))’’ and 

inserting ‘‘documents), section 1028A (relating to aggravated identity theft)’’; and 

(2) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘human trafficking, child 

sexual exploitation, child pornography production,’’ after ‘‘kidnapping’’. 

SEC. 107. ENHANCING HUMAN TRAFFICKING REPORTING. 

Section 505 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe 

Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3755) is amended by adding at 

the end the following: 

‘‘(i) PART 1 VIOLENT CRIMES TO INCLUDE HUMAN TRAF- FICKING.—For purposes of this section, the term ‘part 1 violent 

crimes’ shall include severe forms of trafficking in persons (as 

defined in section 103 of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act 

of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7102)).’’. 

SEC. 108. REDUCING DEMAND FOR SEX TRAFFICKING. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1591 of title 18, United States Code, 

is amended— 

(1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ‘‘or maintains’’ and 

inserting ‘‘maintains, patronizes, or solicits’’; 

(2) in subsection (b)— 

(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘or obtained’’ and 

inserting ‘‘obtained, patronized, or solicited’’; and 

31 USC 

prec. 9701. 


dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with PUBLAWS
PUBLIC LAW 114–22—MAY 29, 2015 129 STAT. 239 

(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘or obtained’’ and 

inserting ‘‘obtained, patronized, or solicited’’; and 

(3) in subsection (c)— 

(A) by striking ‘‘or maintained’’ and inserting ‘‘, maintained, patronized, or solicited’’; and 

(B) by striking ‘‘knew that the person’’ and inserting 

‘‘knew, or recklessly disregarded the fact, that the person’’. 

(b) DEFINITION AMENDED.—Section 103(10) of the Trafficking 

Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7102(10)) is amended 

by striking ‘‘or obtaining’’ and inserting ‘‘obtaining, patronizing, 

or soliciting’’. 

(c) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the amendments made by this 

section is to clarify the range of conduct punished as sex trafficking. 

SEC. 109. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 

It is the sense of Congress that— 

(1) section 1591 of title 18, United States Code, defines 

a sex trafficker as a person who ‘‘knowingly. . .recruits, entices, 

harbors, transports, provides, obtains, or maintains by any 

means a person. . .knowing, or in reckless disregard of the 

fact, that means of force, threats of force, fraud, coercion. . .or 

any combination of such means will be used to cause the 

person to engage in a commercial sex act, or that the person 

has not attained the age of 18 years and will be caused to 

engage in a commercial sex act’’; 

(2) while use of the word ‘‘obtains’’ in section 1591, United 

States Code, has been interpreted, prior to the date of enactment of this Act, to encompass those who purchase illicit sexual 

acts from trafficking victims, some confusion persists; 

(3) in United States vs. Jungers, 702 F.3d 1066 (8th Cir. 

2013), the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit 

ruled that section 1591 of title 18, United States Code, applied 

to persons who purchase illicit sexual acts with trafficking 

victims after the United States District Court for the District 

of South Dakota erroneously granted motions to acquit these 

buyers in two separate cases; and 

(4) section 108 of this title amends section 1591 of title 

18, United States Code, to add the words ‘‘solicits or patronizes’’ 

to the sex trafficking statute making absolutely clear for judges, 

juries, prosecutors, and law enforcement officials that criminals 

who purchase sexual acts from human trafficking victims may 

be arrested, prosecuted, and convicted as sex trafficking 

offenders when this is merited by the facts of a particular 

case. 

SEC. 110. USING EXISTING TASK FORCES AND COMPONENTS TO TARGET OFFENDERS WHO EXPLOIT CHILDREN. 

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this 

Act, the Attorney General shall ensure that— 

(1) all task forces and working groups within the Innocence 

Lost National Initiative engage in activities, programs, or operations to increase the investigative capabilities of State and 

local law enforcement officers in the detection, investigation, 

and prosecution of persons who patronize, or solicit children 

for sex; and 

(2) all components and task forces with jurisdiction to 

detect, investigate, and prosecute cases of child labor trafficking 

engage in activities, programs, or operations to increase the 

Deadline. 

42 USC 14044g 

note. 

18 USC 1591 

note. 

18 USC 1591 

note. 


dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with PUBLAWS
129 STAT. 240 PUBLIC LAW 114–22—MAY 29, 2015 

capacity of such components to deter and punish child labor 

trafficking. 

SEC. 111. TARGETING CHILD PREDATORS. 

(a) CLARIFYING THAT CHILD PORNOGRAPHY PRODUCERS ARE

HUMAN TRAFFICKERS.—Section 2423(f) of title 18, United States 

Code, is amended— 

(1) by striking ‘‘means (1) a’’ and inserting the following: 

‘‘means— 

‘‘(1) a’’; 

(2) by striking ‘‘United States; or (2) any’’ and inserting 

the following: ‘‘United States; 

‘‘(2) any’’; and 

(3) by striking the period at the end and inserting the 

following: ‘‘; or 

‘‘(3) production of child pornography (as defined in section 

2256(8)).’’. 

(b) HOLDING SEX TRAFFICKERS ACCOUNTABLE.—Section 2423(g) 

of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘a preponderance of the evidence’’ and inserting ‘‘clear and convincing evidence’’. 

SEC. 112. MONITORING ALL HUMAN TRAFFICKERS AS VIOLENT CRIMINALS. 

Section 3156(a)(4)(C) of title 18, United States Code, is amended 

by inserting ‘‘77,’’ after ‘‘chapter’’. 

SEC. 113. CRIME VICTIMS’ RIGHTS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3771 of title 18, United States Code, 

is amended— 

(1) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(9) The right to be informed in a timely manner of any 

plea bargain or deferred prosecution agreement. 

‘‘(10) The right to be informed of the rights under this 

section and the services described in section 503(c) of the Victims’ Rights and Restitution Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 10607(c)) 

and provided contact information for the Office of the Victims’ 

Rights Ombudsman of the Department of Justice.’’; 

(2) in subsection (d)(3), in the fifth sentence, by inserting 

‘‘, unless the litigants, with the approval of the court, have 

stipulated to a different time period for consideration’’ before 

the period; and 

(3) in subsection (e)— 

(A) by striking ‘‘this chapter, the term’’ and inserting 

the following: ‘‘this chapter: 

‘‘(1) COURT OF APPEALS.—The term ‘court of appeals’ 

means— 

‘‘(A) the United States court of appeals for the judicial 

district in which a defendant is being prosecuted; or 

‘‘(B) for a prosecution in the Superior Court of the 

District of Columbia, the District of Columbia Court of 

Appeals. 

‘‘(2) CRIME VICTIM.— ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The term’’; 

(B) by striking ‘‘In the case’’ and inserting the following: 

‘‘(B) MINORS AND CERTAIN OTHER VICTIMS.—In the 

case’’; and 

(C) by adding at the end the following: 

Definition. 


dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with PUBLAWS
PUBLIC LAW 114–22—MAY 29, 2015 129 STAT. 241 

‘‘(3) DISTRICT COURT; COURT.—The terms ‘district court’ 

and ‘court’ include the Superior Court of the District of 

Columbia.’’. 

(b) CRIME VICTIMS FUND.—Section 1402(d)(3)(A)(i) of the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 10601(d)(3)(A)(i)) is amended 

by inserting ‘‘section’’ before ‘‘3771’’. 

(c) APPELLATE REVIEW OF PETITIONS RELATING TO CRIME VIC- TIMS’ RIGHTS.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 3771(d)(3) of title 18, United 

States Code, as amended by subsection (a)(2) of this section, 

is amended by inserting after the fifth sentence the following: 

‘‘In deciding such application, the court of appeals shall apply 

ordinary standards of appellate review.’’. 

(2) APPLICATION.—The amendment made by paragraph (1) 

shall apply with respect to any petition for a writ of mandamus 

filed under section 3771(d)(3) of title 18, United States Code, 

that is pending on the date of enactment of this Act. 

SEC. 114. COMBAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING ACT. 

(a) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the ‘‘Combat 

Human Trafficking Act of 2015’’. 

(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

(1) COMMERCIAL SEX ACT; SEVERE FORMS OF TRAFFICKING

IN PERSONS; STATE; TASK FORCE.—The terms ‘‘commercial sex 

act’’, ‘‘severe forms of trafficking in persons’’, ‘‘State’’, and ‘‘Task 

Force’’ have the meanings given those terms in section 103 

of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 

7102). 

(2) COVERED OFFENDER.—The term ‘‘covered offender’’ 

means an individual who obtains, patronizes, or solicits a 

commercial sex act involving a person subject to severe forms 

of trafficking in persons. 

(3) COVERED OFFENSE.—The term ‘‘covered offense’’ means 

the provision, obtaining, patronizing, or soliciting of a commercial sex act involving a person subject to severe forms of trafficking in persons. 

(4) FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.—The term ‘‘Federal law enforcement officer’’ has the meaning given the term 

in section 115 of title 18, United States Code. 

(5) LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.—The term ‘‘local 

law enforcement officer’’ means any officer, agent, or employee 

of a unit of local government authorized by law or by a local 

government agency to engage in or supervise the prevention, 

detection, investigation, or prosecution of any violation of 

criminal law. 

(6) STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.—The term ‘‘State 

law enforcement officer’’ means any officer, agent, or employee 

of a State authorized by law or by a State government agency 

to engage in or supervise the prevention, detection, investigation, or prosecution of any violation of criminal law. 

(c) DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TRAINING AND POLICY FOR LAW

ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, PROSECUTORS, AND JUDGES.— 

(1) TRAINING.— 

(A) LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.—The Attorney General shall ensure that each anti-human trafficking program 

operated by the Department of Justice, including each antihuman trafficking training program for Federal, State, or 

Combat Human 

Trafficking Act 

of 2015. 

42 USC 14044g. 

18 USC 3771 

note. 

Applicability. 


dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with PUBLAWS
129 STAT. 242 PUBLIC LAW 114–22—MAY 29, 2015 

local law enforcement officers, includes technical training 

on— 

(i) effective methods for investigating and prosecuting covered offenders; and 

(ii) facilitating the provision of physical and mental 

health services by health care providers to persons 

subject to severe forms of trafficking in persons. 

(B) FEDERAL PROSECUTORS.—The Attorney General 

shall ensure that each anti-human trafficking program 

operated by the Department of Justice for United States 

attorneys or other Federal prosecutors includes training 

on seeking restitution for offenses under chapter 77 of 

title 18, United States Code, to ensure that each United 

States attorney or other Federal prosecutor, upon obtaining 

a conviction for such an offense, requests a specific amount 

of restitution for each victim of the offense without regard 

to whether the victim requests restitution. 

(C) JUDGES.—The Federal Judicial Center shall provide 

training to judges relating to the application of section 

1593 of title 18, United States Code, with respect to 

ordering restitution for victims of offenses under chapter 

77 of such title. 

(2) POLICY FOR FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.— 

The Attorney General shall ensure that Federal law enforcement officers are engaged in activities, programs, or operations 

involving the detection, investigation, and prosecution of covered offenders. 

(d) MINIMUM PERIOD OF SUPERVISED RELEASE FOR CONSPIRACY

TO COMMIT COMMERCIAL CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING.—Section 3583(k) 

of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting ‘‘1594(c),’’ 

after ‘‘1591,’’. 

(e) BUREAU OF JUSTICE STATISTICS REPORT ON STATE ENFORCEMENT OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING PROHIBITIONS.—The Director of the 

Bureau of Justice Statistics shall— 

(1) prepare an annual report on— 

(A) the rates of— 

(i) arrest of individuals by State law enforcement 

officers for a covered offense; 

(ii) prosecution (including specific charges) of 

individuals in State court systems for a covered offense; 

and 

(iii) conviction of individuals in State court systems 

for a covered offense; and 

(B) sentences imposed on individuals convicted in State 

court systems for a covered offense; and 

(2) submit the annual report prepared under paragraph 

(1) to— 

(A) the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of 

Representatives; 

(B) the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate; 

(C) the Task Force; 

(D) the Senior Policy Operating Group established 

under section 105(g) of the Trafficking Victims Protection 

Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7103(g)); and 

(E) the Attorney General. 


dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with PUBLAWS
PUBLIC LAW 114–22—MAY 29, 2015 129 STAT. 243 

SEC. 115. SURVIVORS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING EMPOWERMENT ACT. 

(a) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the ‘‘Survivors 

of Human Trafficking Empowerment Act’’. 

(b) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established the United States 

Advisory Council on Human Trafficking (referred to in this section 

as the ‘‘Council’’), which shall provide advice and recommendations 

to the Senior Policy Operating Group established under section 

105(g) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 

7103(g)) (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Group’’) and the President’s Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking 

established under section 105(a) of such Act (referred to in this 

section as the ‘‘Task Force’’). 

(c) MEMBERSHIP.— 

(1) COMPOSITION.—The Council shall be composed of not 

less than 8 and not more than 14 individuals who are survivors 

of human trafficking. 

(2) REPRESENTATION OF SURVIVORS.—To the extent practicable, members of the Council shall be survivors of trafficking, 

who shall accurately reflect the diverse backgrounds of survivors of trafficking, including— 

(A) survivors of sex trafficking and survivors of labor 

trafficking; and 

(B) survivors who are United States citizens and survivors who are aliens lawfully present in the United States. 

(3) APPOINTMENT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 

of enactment of this Act, the President shall appoint the members of the Council. 

(4) TERM; REAPPOINTMENT.—Each member of the Council 

shall serve for a term of 2 years and may be reappointed 

by the President to serve 1 additional 2-year term. 

(d) FUNCTIONS.—The Council shall— 

(1) be a nongovernmental advisory body to the Group; 

(2) meet, at its own discretion or at the request of the 

Group, not less frequently than annually to review Federal 

Government policy and programs intended to combat human 

trafficking, including programs relating to the provision of services for victims and serve as a point of contact for Federal 

agencies reaching out to human trafficking survivors for input 

on programming and policies relating to human trafficking 

in the United States; 

(3) formulate assessments and recommendations to ensure 

that policy and programming efforts of the Federal Government 

conform, to the extent practicable, to the best practices in 

the field of human trafficking prevention; and 

(4) meet with the Group not less frequently than annually, 

and not later than 45 days before a meeting with the Task 

Force, to formally present the findings and recommendations 

of the Council. 

(e) REPORTS.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 

of this Act and each year thereafter until the date described in 

subsection (h), the Council shall submit a report that contains 

the findings derived from the reviews conducted pursuant to subsection (d)(2) to— 

(1) the chair of the Task Force; 

(2) the members of the Group; 

Deadline. 

President. 

Survivors of 

Human 

Trafficking 

Empowerment 

Act. 


dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with PUBLAWS
129 STAT. 244 PUBLIC LAW 114–22—MAY 29, 2015 

(3) the Committees on Foreign Affairs, Homeland Security, 

Appropriations, and the Judiciary of the House of Representatives; and 

(4) the Committees on Foreign Relations, Appropriations, 

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and the 

Judiciary of the Senate. 

(f) EMPLOYEE STATUS.—Members of the Council— 

(1) shall not be considered employees of the Federal Government for any purpose; and 

(2) shall not receive compensation other than reimbursement of travel expenses and per diem allowance in accordance 

with section 5703 of title 5, United States Code. 

(g) NONAPPLICABILITY OF FACA.—The Council shall not be 

subject to the requirements under the Federal Advisory Committee 

Act (5 U.S.C. App.). 

(h) SUNSET.—The Council shall terminate on September 30, 

2020. 

SEC. 116. BRINGING MISSING CHILDREN HOME ACT. 

(a) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the ‘‘Bringing 

Missing Children Home Act’’. 

(b) CRIME CONTROL ACT AMENDMENTS.—Section 3702 of the 

Crime Control Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 5780) is amended— 

(1) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 

(2) in paragraph (3)— 

(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) and (C) as 

subparagraphs (C) and (D), respectively; and 

(B) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following: 

‘‘(B) a recent photograph of the child, if available;’’; 

and 

(3) in paragraph (4)— 

(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by 

striking ‘‘paragraph (2)’’ and inserting ‘‘paragraph (3)’’; 

(B) in subparagraph (A)— 

(i) by striking ‘‘60 days’’ and inserting ‘‘30 days’’; 

and 

(ii) by inserting ‘‘and a photograph taken during 

the previous 180 days’’ after ‘‘dental records’’; 

(C) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 

(D) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (D); 

(E) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following: 

‘‘(C) notify the National Center for Missing and 

Exploited Children of each report received relating to a 

child reported missing from a foster care family home or 

childcare institution;’’; 

(F) in subparagraph (D), as redesignated— 

(i) by inserting ‘‘State and local child welfare systems and’’ before ‘‘the National Center for Missing 

and Exploited Children’’; and 

(ii) by striking the period at the end and inserting 

‘‘; and’’; and 

(G) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(E) grant permission to the National Crime Information Center Terminal Contractor for the State to update 

the missing person record in the National Crime Information Center computer networks with additional information 

Notification. 

42 USC 5601 

note. 

Bringing Missing 

Children Home 

Act. 


dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with PUBLAWS
PUBLIC LAW 114–22—MAY 29, 2015 129 STAT. 245 

learned during the investigation relating to the missing 

person.’’. 

SEC. 117. GRANT ACCOUNTABILITY. 

(a) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘‘covered grant’’ 

means a grant awarded by the Attorney General under section 

203 of the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 

2005 (42 U.S.C. 14044b), as amended by section 103. 

(b) ACCOUNTABILITY.—All covered grants shall be subject to 

the following accountability provisions: 

(1) AUDIT REQUIREMENT.— 

(A) IN GENERAL.—Beginning in the first fiscal year 

beginning after the date of enactment of this Act, and 

in each fiscal year thereafter, the Inspector General of 

the Department of Justice shall conduct audits of recipients 

of a covered grant to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse 

of funds by grantees. The Inspector General shall determine 

the appropriate number of grantees to be audited each 

year. 

(B) DEFINITION.—In this paragraph, the term ‘‘unresolved audit finding’’ means a finding in the final audit 

report of the Inspector General that the audited grantee 

has utilized grant funds for an unauthorized expenditure 

or otherwise unallowable cost that is not closed or resolved 

within 12 months from the date when the final audit report 

is issued. 

(C) MANDATORY EXCLUSION.—A recipient of a covered 

grant that is found to have an unresolved audit finding 

shall not be eligible to receive a covered grant during 

the following 2 fiscal years. 

(D) PRIORITY.—In awarding covered grants the 

Attorney General shall give priority to eligible entities 

that did not have an unresolved audit finding during the 

3 fiscal years prior to submitting an application for a 

covered grant. 

(E) REIMBURSEMENT.—If an entity is awarded a covered grant during the 2-fiscal-year period in which the 

entity is barred from receiving grants under subparagraph 

(C), the Attorney General shall— 

(i) deposit an amount equal to the grant funds 

that were improperly awarded to the grantee into the 

General Fund of the Treasury; and 

(ii) seek to recoup the costs of the repayment to 

the fund from the grant recipient that was erroneously 

awarded grant funds. 

(2) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION REQUIREMENTS.— 

(A) DEFINITION.—For purposes of this paragraph and 

covered grants, the term ‘‘nonprofit organization’’ means 

an organization that is described in section 501(c)(3) of 

the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and is exempt from 

taxation under section 501(a) of such Code. 

(B) PROHIBITION.—The Attorney General may not 

award a covered grant to a nonprofit organization that 

holds money in offshore accounts for the purpose of 

avoiding paying the tax described in section 511(a) of the 

Internal Revenue Code of 1986. 

Determination. 

Effective date. 

Time periods. 

42 USC 

14044b–1. 


dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with PUBLAWS
129 STAT. 246 PUBLIC LAW 114–22—MAY 29, 2015 

(C) DISCLOSURE.—Each nonprofit organization that is 

awarded a covered grant and uses the procedures prescribed in regulations to create a rebuttable presumption 

of reasonableness for the compensation of its officers, directors, trustees and key employees, shall disclose to the 

Attorney General, in the application for the grant, the 

process for determining such compensation, including the 

independent persons involved in reviewing and approving 

such compensation, the comparability data used, and 

contemporaneous substantiation of the deliberation and 

decision. Upon request, the Attorney General shall make 

the information disclosed under this subsection available 

for public inspection. 

(3) CONFERENCE EXPENDITURES.— (A) LIMITATION.—No amounts transferred to the 

Department of Justice under this title, or the amendments 

made by this title, may be used by the Attorney General, 

or by any individual or organization awarded discretionary 

funds through a cooperative agreement under this title, 

or the amendments made by this title, to host or support 

any expenditure for conferences that uses more than 

$20,000 in Department funds, unless the Deputy Attorney 

General or such Assistant Attorney Generals, Directors, 

or principal deputies as the Deputy Attorney General may 

designate, provides prior written authorization that the 

funds may be expended to host a conference. 

(B) WRITTEN APPROVAL.—Written approval under 

subparagraph (A) shall include a written estimate of all 

costs associated with the conference, including the cost 

of all food and beverages, audiovisual equipment, honoraria 

for speakers, and any entertainment. 

(C) REPORT.—The Deputy Attorney General shall 

submit an annual report to the Committee on the Judiciary 

of the Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary of the 

House of Representatives on all approved conference 

expenditures referenced in this paragraph. 

(D) ANNUAL CERTIFICATION.—Beginning in the first 

fiscal year beginning after the date of enactment of this 

title, the Attorney General shall submit, to the Committee 

on the Judiciary and the Committee on Appropriations 

of the Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary and 

the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives, an annual certification that— 

(i) all audits issued by the Office of the Inspector 

General under paragraph (1) have been completed and 

reviewed by the appropriate Assistant Attorney General or Director; 

(ii) all mandatory exclusions required under paragraph (1)(C) have been issued; 

(iii) all reimbursements required under paragraph 

(1)(E) have been made; and 

(iv) includes a list of any grant recipients excluded 

under paragraph (1) from the previous year. 

(4) PROHIBITION ON LOBBYING ACTIVITY.— 

(A) IN GENERAL.—Amounts awarded under this title, 

or any amendments made by this title, may not be utilized 

by any grant recipient to— 

Effective date. 

Cost estimate. 

Public 

information. 


dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with PUBLAWS
PUBLIC LAW 114–22—MAY 29, 2015 129 STAT. 247 

(i) lobby any representative of the Department of 

Justice regarding the award of grant funding; or 

(ii) lobby any representative of a Federal, State, 

local, or tribal government regarding the award of 

grant funding. 

(B) PENALTY.—If the Attorney General determines that 

any recipient of a covered grant has violated subparagraph 

(A), the Attorney General shall— 

(i) require the grant recipient to repay the grant 

in full; and 

(ii) prohibit the grant recipient from receiving 

another covered grant for not less than 5 years. 

SEC. 118. SAVE ACT. 

(a) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the ‘‘Stop Advertising Victims of Exploitation Act of 2015’’ or the ‘‘SAVE Act of 

2015’’. 

(b) ADVERTISING THAT OFFERS CERTAIN COMMERCIAL ACTS.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 1591(a)(1) of title 18, United 

States Code, as amended by this Act, is further amended by 

inserting ‘‘advertises,’’ after ‘‘obtains,’’. 

(2) MENS REA REQUIREMENT.—Section 1591(a) of title 18, 

United States Code, is amended in the undesignated matter 

following paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘, except where the act 

constituting the violation of paragraph (1) is advertising,’’ after 

‘‘knowing, or’’. 

(3) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Section 1591(b) of title 18, 

United States Code, as amended by this Act, is further 

amended— 

(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘advertised,’’ after 

‘‘obtained,’’; and 

(B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘advertised,’’ after 

‘‘obtained,’’. 

SEC. 119. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH TO TRAFFICKING SURVIVORS. 

The Attorney General shall make available, on the website 

of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, a 

database for trafficking victim advocates, crisis hotline personnel, 

foster parents, law enforcement personnel, and crime survivors 

that contains information on— 

(1) counseling and hotline resources; 

(2) housing resources; 

(3) legal assistance; and 

(4) other services for trafficking survivors. 

SEC. 120. EXPANDED STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS FOR CIVIL ACTIONS 

BY CHILD TRAFFICKING SURVIVORS. 

Section 1595(c) of title 18, United States Code, is amended 

by striking ‘‘not later than 10 years after the cause of action 

arose.’’ and inserting ‘‘not later than the later of— 

‘‘(1) 10 years after the cause of action arose; or 

‘‘(2) 10 years after the victim reaches 18 years of age, 

if the victim was a minor at the time of the alleged offense.’’. 

SEC. 121. GAO STUDY AND REPORT. 

(a) STUDY.—The Comptroller General of the United States shall 

conduct a study on each program or initiative authorized under 

Web posting. 

42 USC 5611 

note. 

18 USC 1 note. 

Stop Advertising 

Victims of 

Exploitation Act 

of 2015. 

Time period. 

Repayment. 

Determination. 


dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with PUBLAWS
129 STAT. 248 PUBLIC LAW 114–22—MAY 29, 2015 

this Act and the following statutes and evaluate whether any program or initiative is duplicative: 

(1) Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 

2005 (Public Law 109–164; 119 Stat. 3558). 

(2) Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 

7101 et seq.). 

(3) Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 13001 

et seq.). 

(4) Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5701 

et seq.). 

(5) Missing Children’s Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5771 et 

seq.). 

(b) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 

shall submit to the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate 

and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives 

a report on the study conducted under subsection (a), which shall 

include— 

(1) a description of the cost of any duplicative program 

or initiative studied under subsection (a); and 

(2) recommendations on how to achieve cost savings with 

respect to each duplicative program or initiative studied under 

subsection (a). 

TITLE II—COMBATING HUMAN 

TRAFFICKING 

Subtitle A—Enhancing Services for Runaway and Homeless Victims of Youth 

Trafficking 

SEC. 201. AMENDMENTS TO THE RUNAWAY AND HOMELESS YOUTH 

ACT. 

The Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5701 et 

seq.) is amended— 

(1) in section 343(b)(5) (42 U.S.C. 5714–23(b)(5))— 

(A) in subparagraph (A) by inserting ‘‘, severe forms 

of trafficking in persons (as defined in section 103(9) of 

the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 

7102(9))), and sex trafficking (as defined in section 103(10) 

of such Act (22 U.S.C. 7102(10)))’’ before the semicolon 

at the end; 

(B) in subparagraph (B) by inserting ‘‘, severe forms 

of trafficking in persons (as defined in section 103(9) of 

the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 

7102(9))), or sex trafficking (as defined in section 103(10) 

of such Act (22 U.S.C. 7102(10)))’’ after ‘‘assault’’; and 

(C) in subparagraph (C) by inserting ‘‘, including such 

youth who are victims of trafficking (as defined in section 

103(15) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 

(22 U.S.C. 7102(15)))’’ before the semicolon at the end; 

and 

(2) in section 351(a) (42 U.S.C. 5714–41(a)) by striking 

‘‘or sexual exploitation’’ and inserting ‘‘sexual exploitation, 

Recommendations. 


dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with PUBLAWS
PUBLIC LAW 114–22—MAY 29, 2015 129 STAT. 249 

severe forms of trafficking in persons (as defined in section 

103(9) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 

U.S.C. 7102(9))), or sex trafficking (as defined in section 103(10) 

of such Act (22 U.S.C. 7102(10)))’’. 

Subtitle B—Improving the Response to 

Victims of Child Sex Trafficking 

SEC. 211. RESPONSE TO VICTIMS OF CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING. 

Section 404(b)(1)(P)(iii) of the Missing Children’s Assistance 

Act (42 U.S.C. 5773(b)(1)(P)(iii)) is amended by striking ‘‘child prostitution’’ and inserting ‘‘child sex trafficking, including child prostitution’’. 

Subtitle C—Interagency Task Force to 

Monitor and Combat Trafficking 

SEC. 221. VICTIM OF TRAFFICKING DEFINED. 

In this subtitle, the term ‘‘victim of trafficking’’ has the meaning 

given such term in section 103 of the Trafficking Victims Protection 

Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7102). 

SEC. 222. INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE REPORT ON CHILD TRAFFICKING 

PRIMARY PREVENTION. 

(a) REVIEW.—The Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking, established under section 105 of the Trafficking 

Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7103), shall conduct 

a review that, with regard to trafficking in persons in the United 

States— 

(1) in consultation with nongovernmental organizations 

that the Task Force determines appropriate, surveys and catalogs the activities of the Federal Government and State governments— 

(A) to deter individuals from committing trafficking 

offenses; and 

(B) to prevent children from becoming victims of trafficking; 

(2) surveys academic literature on— 

(A) deterring individuals from committing trafficking 

offenses; 

(B) preventing children from becoming victims of trafficking; 

(C) the commercial sexual exploitation of children; and 

(D) other similar topics that the Task Force determines 

to be appropriate; 

(3) identifies best practices and effective strategies— 

(A) to deter individuals from committing trafficking 

offenses; and 

(B) to prevent children from becoming victims of trafficking; and 

(4) identifies current gaps in research and data that would 

be helpful in formulating effective strategies— 

(A) to deter individuals from committing trafficking 

offenses; and 

Consultation. 


dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with PUBLAWS
129 STAT. 250 PUBLIC LAW 114–22—MAY 29, 2015 

(B) to prevent children from becoming victims of trafficking. 

(b) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat 

Trafficking shall provide to Congress, and make publicly available 

in electronic format, a report on the review conducted pursuant 

to subparagraph (a). 

SEC. 223. GAO REPORT ON INTERVENTION. 

On the date that is 1 year after the date of the enactment 

of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall 

submit a report to Congress that includes information on— 

(1) the efforts of Federal and select State law enforcement 

agencies to combat human trafficking in the United States; 

and 

(2) each Federal grant program, a purpose of which is 

to combat human trafficking or assist victims of trafficking, 

as specified in an authorizing statute or in a guidance document 

issued by the agency carrying out the grant program. 

SEC. 224. PROVISION OF HOUSING PERMITTED TO PROTECT AND 

ASSIST IN THE RECOVERY OF VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING. 

Section 107(b)(2)(A) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act 

of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7105(b)(2)(A)) is amended by inserting ‘‘, 

including programs that provide housing to victims of trafficking’’ 

before the period at the end. 

Subtitle D—Expanded Training 

SEC. 231. EXPANDED TRAINING RELATING TO TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS. 

Section 105(c)(4) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 

2000 (22 U.S.C. 7105(c)(4)) is amended— 

(1) by striking ‘‘Appropriate personnel’’ and inserting the 

following: 

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Appropriate personnel’’; 

(2) in subparagraph (A), as redesignated, by inserting ‘‘, 

including members of the Service (as such term is defined 

in section 103 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 

3903))’’ after ‘‘Department of State’’; and 

(3) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(B) TRAINING COMPONENTS.—Training under this 

paragraph shall include— 

‘‘(i) a distance learning course on trafficking-inpersons issues and the Department of State’s obligations under this Act, which shall be designed for 

embassy reporting officers, regional bureaus’ trafficking-in-persons coordinators, and their superiors; 

‘‘(ii) specific trafficking-in-persons briefings for all 

ambassadors and deputy chiefs of mission before such 

individuals depart for their posts; and 

‘‘(iii) at least annual reminders to all personnel 

referred to in clauses (i) and (ii), including appropriate 

personnel from other Federal departments and agencies, at each diplomatic or consular post of the Department of State located outside the United States of— 

Public 

information. 


dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with PUBLAWS
PUBLIC LAW 114–22—MAY 29, 2015 129 STAT. 251 

‘‘(I) key problems, threats, methods, and 

warning signs of trafficking in persons specific to 

the country or jurisdiction in which each such post 

is located; and 

‘‘(II) appropriate procedures to report information that any such personnel may acquire about 

possible cases of trafficking in persons.’’. 

TITLE III—HERO ACT 

SEC. 301. SHORT TITLE. 

This title may be cited as the ‘‘Human Exploitation Rescue 

Operations Act of 2015’’ or the ‘‘HERO Act of 2015’’. 

SEC. 302. HERO ACT. 

(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 

(1) The illegal market for the production and distribution 

of child abuse imagery is a growing threat to children in the 

United States. International demand for this material creates 

a powerful incentive for the rape, abuse, and torture of children 

within the United States. 

(2) The targeting of United States children by international 

criminal networks is a threat to the homeland security of 

the United States. This threat must be fought with trained 

personnel and highly specialized counter-child-exploitation 

strategies and technologies. 

(3) The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement of the Department of Homeland Security serves a critical 

national security role in protecting the United States from 

the growing international threat of child exploitation and 

human trafficking. 

(4) The Cyber Crimes Center of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement is a vital national resource 

in the effort to combat international child exploitation, providing advanced expertise and assistance in investigations, computer forensics, and victim identification. 

(5) The returning military heroes of the United States 

possess unique and valuable skills that can assist law enforcement in combating global sexual and child exploitation, and 

the Department of Homeland Security should use this national 

resource to the maximum extent possible. 

(6) Through the Human Exploitation Rescue Operative 

(HERO) Child Rescue Corps program, the returning military 

heroes of the United States are trained and hired to investigate 

crimes of child exploitation in order to target predators and 

rescue children from sexual abuse and slavery. 

(b) CYBER CRIMES CENTER, CHILD EXPLOITATION INVESTIGATIONS UNIT, AND COMPUTER FORENSICS UNIT.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Subtitle H of title VIII of the Homeland 

Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 451 et seq.) is amended by 

adding at the end the following: 

‘‘SEC. 890A. CYBER CRIMES CENTER, CHILD EXPLOITATION INVESTIGATIONS UNIT, COMPUTER FORENSICS UNIT, AND CYBER 

CRIMES UNIT. 

‘‘(a) CYBER CRIMES CENTER.— 

6 USC 473. 

6 USC 473 note. 

6 USC 101 note. 

Human 

Exploitation 

Rescue 

Operations Act 

of 2015. 


dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with PUBLAWS
129 STAT. 252 PUBLIC LAW 114–22—MAY 29, 2015 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall operate, within 

United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a Cyber 

Crimes Center (referred to in this section as the ‘Center’). 

‘‘(2) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the Center shall be to provide investigative assistance, training, and equipment to support United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s 

domestic and international investigations of cyber-related 

crimes. 

‘‘(b) CHILD EXPLOITATION INVESTIGATIONS UNIT.— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall operate, within the 

Center, a Child Exploitation Investigations Unit (referred to 

in this subsection as the ‘CEIU’). 

‘‘(2) FUNCTIONS.—The CEIU— 

‘‘(A) shall coordinate all United States Immigration 

and Customs Enforcement child exploitation initiatives, 

including investigations into— 

‘‘(i) child exploitation; 

‘‘(ii) child pornography; 

‘‘(iii) child victim identification; 

‘‘(iv) traveling child sex offenders; and 

‘‘(v) forced child labor, including the sexual exploitation of minors; 

‘‘(B) shall, among other things, focus on— 

‘‘(i) child exploitation prevention; 

‘‘(ii) investigative capacity building; 

‘‘(iii) enforcement operations; and 

‘‘(iv) training for Federal, State, local, tribal, and 

foreign law enforcement agency personnel, upon 

request; 

‘‘(C) shall provide training, technical expertise, support, 

or coordination of child exploitation investigations, as 

needed, to cooperating law enforcement agencies and personnel; 

‘‘(D) shall provide psychological support and counseling 

services for United States Immigration and Customs 

Enforcement personnel engaged in child exploitation 

prevention initiatives, including making available other 

existing services to assist employees who are exposed to 

child exploitation material during investigations; 

‘‘(E) is authorized to collaborate with the Department 

of Defense and the National Association to Protect Children 

for the purpose of the recruiting, training, equipping and 

hiring of wounded, ill, and injured veterans and 

transitioning service members, through the Human Exploitation Rescue Operative (HERO) Child Rescue Corps program; and 

‘‘(F) shall collaborate with other governmental, nongovernmental, and nonprofit entities approved by the Secretary for the sponsorship of, and participation in, outreach 

and training activities. 

‘‘(3) DATA COLLECTION.—The CEIU shall collect and maintain data concerning— 

‘‘(A) the total number of suspects identified by United 

States Immigration and Customs Enforcement; 

‘‘(B) the number of arrests by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, disaggregated by type, 

including— 


dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with PUBLAWS
PUBLIC LAW 114–22—MAY 29, 2015 129 STAT. 253 

‘‘(i) the number of victims identified through investigations carried out by United States Immigration 

and Customs Enforcement; and 

‘‘(ii) the number of suspects arrested who were 

in positions of trust or authority over children; 

‘‘(C) the number of cases opened for investigation by 

United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement; and 

‘‘(D) the number of cases resulting in a Federal, State, 

foreign, or military prosecution. 

‘‘(4) AVAILABILITY OF DATA TO CONGRESS.—In addition to 

submitting the reports required under paragraph (7), the CEIU 

shall make the data collected and maintained under paragraph 

(3) available to the committees of Congress described in paragraph (7). 

‘‘(5) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.—The CEIU is authorized 

to enter into cooperative agreements to accomplish the functions 

set forth in paragraphs (2) and (3). 

‘‘(6) ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS.— 

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary is authorized to 

accept monies and in-kind donations from the Virtual 

Global Taskforce, national laboratories, Federal agencies, 

not-for-profit organizations, and educational institutions to 

create and expand public awareness campaigns in support 

of the functions of the CEIU. 

‘‘(B) EXEMPTION FROM FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION.—Gifts authorized under subparagraph (A) shall not 

be subject to the Federal Acquisition Regulation for competition when the services provided by the entities referred 

to in such subparagraph are donated or of minimal cost 

to the Department. 

‘‘(7) REPORTS.—Not later than 1 year after the date of 

the enactment of the HERO Act of 2015, and annually for 

the following 4 years, the CEIU shall— 

‘‘(A) submit a report containing a summary of the 

data collected pursuant to paragraph (3) during the previous year to— 

‘‘(i) the Committee on Homeland Security and 

Governmental Affairs of the Senate; 

‘‘(ii) the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate; 

‘‘(iii) the Committee on Appropriations of the 

Senate; 

‘‘(iv) the Committee on Homeland Security of the 

House of Representatives; 

‘‘(v) the Committee on the Judiciary of the House 

of Representatives; and 

‘‘(vi) the Committee on Appropriations of the House 

of Representatives; and 

‘‘(B) make a copy of each report submitted under 

subparagraph (A) publicly available on the website of the 

Department. 

‘‘(c) COMPUTER FORENSICS UNIT.— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall operate, within the 

Center, a Computer Forensics Unit (referred to in this subsection as the ‘CFU’). 

‘‘(2) FUNCTIONS.—The CFU— 

‘‘(A) shall provide training and technical support in 

digital forensics to— 

Records. 


dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with PUBLAWS
129 STAT. 254 PUBLIC LAW 114–22—MAY 29, 2015 

‘‘(i) United States Immigration and Customs 

Enforcement personnel; and 

‘‘(ii) Federal, State, local, tribal, military, and foreign law enforcement agency personnel engaged in the 

investigation of crimes within their respective jurisdictions, upon request and subject to the availability of 

funds; 

‘‘(B) shall provide computer hardware, software, and 

forensic licenses for all computer forensics personnel within 

United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement; 

‘‘(C) shall participate in research and development in 

the area of digital forensics, in coordination with appropriate components of the Department; and 

‘‘(D) is authorized to collaborate with the Department 

of Defense and the National Association to Protect Children 

for the purpose of recruiting, training, equipping, and 

hiring wounded, ill, and injured veterans and transitioning 

service members, through the Human Exploitation Rescue 

Operative (HERO) Child Rescue Corps program. 

‘‘(3) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.—The CFU is authorized 

to enter into cooperative agreements to accomplish the functions 

set forth in paragraph (2). 

‘‘(4) ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS.— 

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary is authorized to 

accept monies and in-kind donations from the Virtual 

Global Task Force, national laboratories, Federal agencies, 

not-for-profit organizations, and educational institutions to 

create and expand public awareness campaigns in support 

of the functions of the CFU. 

‘‘(B) EXEMPTION FROM FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION.—Gifts authorized under subparagraph (A) shall not 

be subject to the Federal Acquisition Regulation for competition when the services provided by the entities referred 

to in such subparagraph are donated or of minimal cost 

to the Department. 

‘‘(d) CYBER CRIMES UNIT.— 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall operate, within the 

Center, a Cyber Crimes Unit (referred to in this subsection 

as the ‘CCU’). 

‘‘(2) FUNCTIONS.—The CCU— 

‘‘(A) shall oversee the cyber security strategy and cyberrelated operations and programs for United States 

Immigration and Customs Enforcement; 

‘‘(B) shall enhance United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s ability to combat criminal enterprises 

operating on or through the Internet, with specific focus 

in the areas of— 

‘‘(i) cyber economic crime; 

‘‘(ii) digital theft of intellectual property; 

‘‘(iii) illicit e-commerce (including hidden marketplaces); 

‘‘(iv) Internet-facilitated proliferation of arms and 

strategic technology; and 

‘‘(v) cyber-enabled smuggling and money laundering; 

‘‘(C) shall provide training and technical support in 

cyber investigations to— 


dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with PUBLAWS
PUBLIC LAW 114–22—MAY 29, 2015 129 STAT. 255 

‘‘(i) United States Immigration and Customs 

Enforcement personnel; and 

‘‘(ii) Federal, State, local, tribal, military, and foreign law enforcement agency personnel engaged in the 

investigation of crimes within their respective jurisdictions, upon request and subject to the availability of 

funds; 

‘‘(D) shall participate in research and development in 

the area of cyber investigations, in coordination with appropriate components of the Department; and 

‘‘(E) is authorized to recruit participants of the Human 

Exploitation Rescue Operative (HERO) Child Rescue Corps 

program for investigative and forensic positions in support 

of the functions of the CCU. 

‘‘(3) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.—The CCU is authorized 

to enter into cooperative agreements to accomplish the functions 

set forth in paragraph (2). 

‘‘(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized 

to be appropriated to the Secretary such sums as are necessary 

to carry out this section.’’. 

(2) TABLE OF CONTENTS AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 

in section 1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 

101 note) is amended by adding after the item relating to 

section 890 the following: 

‘‘Sec. 890A. Cyber crimes center, child exploitation investigations unit, computer 

forensics unit, and cyber crimes unit.’’. 

(c) HERO CORPS HIRING.—It is the sense of Congress that 

Homeland Security Investigations of the United States Immigration 

and Customs Enforcement should hire, recruit, train, and equip 

wounded, ill, or injured military veterans (as defined in section 

101, title 38, United States Code) who are affiliated with the HERO 

Child Rescue Corps program for investigative, intelligence, analyst, 

and forensic positions. 

(d) INVESTIGATING CHILD EXPLOITATION.—Section 307(b)(3) of 

the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 187(b)(3)) is 

amended— 

(1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 

(2) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the 

end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

(3) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(D) conduct research and development for the purpose 

of advancing technology for the investigation of child exploitation crimes, including child victim identification, trafficking in persons, and child pornography, and for advanced 

forensics.’’. 

SEC. 303. TRANSPORTATION FOR ILLEGAL SEXUAL ACTIVITY AND 

RELATED CRIMES. 

Chapter 117 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by 

striking section 2421 and inserting the following: 

‘‘§ 2421. Transportation generally 

‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Whoever knowingly transports any individual in interstate or foreign commerce, or in any Territory or 

Possession of the United States, with intent that such individual 

engage in prostitution, or in any sexual activity for which any 

person can be charged with a criminal offense, or attempts to 

18 USC 2421. 


dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with PUBLAWS
129 STAT. 256 PUBLIC LAW 114–22—MAY 29, 2015 

do so, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 

10 years, or both. 

‘‘(b) REQUESTS TO PROSECUTE VIOLATIONS BY STATE ATTORNEYS

GENERAL.— 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Attorney General shall grant a 

request by a State attorney general that a State or local 

attorney be cross designated to prosecute a violation of this 

section unless the Attorney General determines that granting 

the request would undermine the administration of justice. 

‘‘(2) REASON FOR DENIAL.—If the Attorney General denies 

a request under paragraph (1), the Attorney General shall 

submit to the State attorney general a detailed reason for 

the denial not later than 60 days after the date on which 

a request is received.’’. 

TITLE IV—RAPE SURVIVOR CHILD 

CUSTODY 

SEC. 401. SHORT TITLE. 

This title may be cited as the ‘‘Rape Survivor Child Custody 

Act’’. 

SEC. 402. DEFINITIONS. 

In this title: 

(1) COVERED FORMULA GRANT.—The term ‘‘covered formula 

grant’’ means a grant under— 

(A) part T of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control 

and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796gg et seq.) 

(commonly referred to as the ‘‘STOP Violence Against 

Women Formula Grant Program’’); or 

(B) section 41601 of the Violence Against Women Act 

of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 14043g) (commonly referred to as the 

‘‘Sexual Assault Services Program’’). 

(2) TERMINATION.— 

(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘termination’’ means, when 

used with respect to parental rights, a complete and final 

termination of the parent’s right to custody of, guardianship 

of, visitation with, access to, and inheritance from a child. 

(B) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to require a State, in order to 

receive an increase in the amount provided to the State 

under the covered formula grants under this title, to have 

in place a law that terminates any obligation of a person 

who fathered a child through rape to support the child. 

SEC. 403. FINDINGS. 

Congress finds the following: 

(1) Men who father children through rape should be prohibited from visiting or having custody of those children. 

(2) Thousands of rape-related pregnancies occur annually 

in the United States. 

(3) A substantial number of women choose to raise their 

child conceived through rape and, as a result, may face custody 

battles with their rapists. 

42 USC 

14043h–1. 

42 USC 14043h. 

42 USC 13701 

note. 

Rape Survivor 

Child Custody 

Act. 

Deadline. 


dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with PUBLAWS
PUBLIC LAW 114–22—MAY 29, 2015 129 STAT. 257 

(4) Rape is one of the most under-prosecuted serious crimes, 

with estimates of criminal conviction occurring in less than 

5 percent of rapes. 

(5) The clear and convincing evidence standard is the most 

common standard for termination of parental rights among 

the 50 States, territories, and the District of Columbia. 

(6) The Supreme Court established that the clear and convincing evidence standard satisfies due process for allegations 

to terminate or restrict parental rights in Santosky v. Kramer 

(455 U.S. 745 (1982)). 

(7) Currently only 10 States have statutes allowing rape 

survivors to petition for the termination of parental rights 

of the rapist based on clear and convincing evidence that the 

child was conceived through rape. 

(8) A rapist pursuing parental or custody rights causes 

the survivor to have continued interaction with the rapist, 

which can have traumatic psychological effects on the survivor, 

and can make it more difficult for her to recover. 

(9) These traumatic effects on the mother can severely 

negatively impact her ability to raise a healthy child. 

(10) Rapists may use the threat of pursuing custody or 

parental rights to coerce survivors into not prosecuting rape, 

or otherwise harass, intimidate, or manipulate them. 

SEC. 404. INCREASED FUNDING FOR FORMULA GRANTS AUTHORIZED. 

The Attorney General shall increase the amount provided to 

a State under the covered formula grants in accordance with this 

title if the State has in place a law that allows the mother of 

any child that was conceived through rape to seek court-ordered 

termination of the parental rights of her rapist with regard to 

that child, which the court is authorized to grant upon clear and 

convincing evidence of rape. 

SEC. 405. APPLICATION. 

A State seeking an increase in the amount provided to the 

State under the covered formula grants shall include in the application of the State for each covered formula grant such information 

as the Attorney General may reasonably require, including information about the law described in section 404. 

SEC. 406. GRANT INCREASE. 

The amount of the increase provided to a State under the 

covered formula grants under this title shall be equal to not more 

than 10 percent of the average of the total amount of funding 

provided to the State under the covered formula grants under 

the 3 most recent awards to the State. 

SEC. 407. PERIOD OF INCREASE. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Attorney General shall provide an 

increase in the amount provided to a State under the covered 

formula grants under this title for a 2-year period. 

(b) LIMIT.—The Attorney General may not provide an increase 

in the amount provided to a State under the covered formula 

grants under this title more than 4 times. 

42 USC 

14043h–5. 

42 USC 

14043h–4. 

42 USC 

14043h–3. 

42 USC 

14043h–2. 


dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with PUBLAWS
129 STAT. 258 PUBLIC LAW 114–22—MAY 29, 2015 

SEC. 408. ALLOCATION OF INCREASED FORMULA GRANT FUNDS. 

The Attorney General shall allocate an increase in the amount 

provided to a State under the covered formula grants under this 

title such that— 

(1) 25 percent the amount of the increase is provided under 

the program described in section 402(1)(A); and 

(2) 75 percent the amount of the increase is provided under 

the program described in section 402(1)(B). 

SEC. 409. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this title $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2015 through 2019. 

TITLE V—MILITARY SEX OFFENDER 

REPORTING 

SEC. 501. SHORT TITLE. 

This title may be cited as the ‘‘Military Sex Offender Reporting 

Act of 2015’’. 

SEC. 502. REGISTRATION OF SEX OFFENDERS RELEASED FROM MILITARY CORRECTIONS FACILITIES OR UPON CONVICTION. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act is amended by inserting after section 128 (42 U.S.C. 16928) 

the following: 

‘‘SEC. 128A. REGISTRATION OF SEX OFFENDERS RELEASED FROM MILITARY CORRECTIONS FACILITIES OR UPON CONVICTION. 

‘‘The Secretary of Defense shall provide to the Attorney General 

the information described in section 114 to be included in the 

National Sex Offender Registry and the Dru Sjodin National Sex 

Offender Public Website regarding persons— 

‘‘(1)(A) released from military corrections facilities; or 

‘‘(B) convicted if the sentences adjudged by courts-martial 

under chapter 47 of title 10, United States Code (the Uniform 

Code of Military Justice), do not include confinement; and 

‘‘(2) required to register under this title.’’. 

(b) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of 

contents of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act is 

amended by inserting after the item relating to section 128 the 

following: 

‘‘Sec. 128A. Registration of sex offenders released from military corrections facilities or upon conviction.’’. 

TITLE VI—STOPPING EXPLOITATION 

THROUGH TRAFFICKING 

SEC. 601. SAFE HARBOR INCENTIVES. 

Part Q of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe 

Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796dd et seq.) is amended— 

(1) in section 1701(c), by striking ‘‘where feasible’’ and 

all that follows, and inserting the following: ‘‘where feasible, 

to an application— 

42 USC 3796dd. 

42 USC 16928a. 

42 USC 16901 

note. 

Military Sex 

Offender 

Reporting Act 

of 2015. 

42 USC 

14043h–7. 

42 USC 

14043h–6. 


dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with PUBLAWS
PUBLIC LAW 114–22—MAY 29, 2015 129 STAT. 259 

‘‘(1) for hiring and rehiring additional career law enforcement officers that involves a non-Federal contribution exceeding 

the 25 percent minimum under subsection (g); or 

‘‘(2) from an applicant in a State that has in effect a 

law that— 

‘‘(A) treats a minor who has engaged in, or has 

attempted to engage in, a commercial sex act as a victim 

of a severe form of trafficking in persons; 

‘‘(B) discourages or prohibits the charging or prosecution of an individual described in subparagraph (A) for 

a prostitution or sex trafficking offense, based on the conduct described in subparagraph (A); and 

‘‘(C) encourages the diversion of an individual described 

in subparagraph (A) to appropriate service providers, 

including child welfare services, victim treatment programs, child advocacy centers, rape crisis centers, or other 

social services.’’; and 

(2) in section 1709, by inserting at the end the following: 

‘‘(5) ‘commercial sex act’ has the meaning given the term 

in section 103 of the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7102). 

‘‘(6) ‘minor’ means an individual who has not attained 

the age of 18 years. 

‘‘(7) ‘severe form of trafficking in persons’ has the meaning 

given the term in section 103 of the Victims of Trafficking 

and Violence Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7102).’’. 

SEC. 602. REPORT ON RESTITUTION PAID IN CONNECTION WITH CERTAIN TRAFFICKING OFFENSES. 

Section 105(d)(7)(Q) of the Victims of Trafficking and Violence 

Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7103(d)(7)(Q)) is amended— 

(1) by inserting after ‘‘1590,’’ the following: ‘‘1591,’’; 

(2) by striking ‘‘and 1594’’ and inserting ‘‘1594, 2251, 2251A, 

2421, 2422, and 2423’’; 

(3) in clause (iv), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 

(4) in clause (v), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; and 

(5) by inserting after clause (v) the following: 

‘‘(vi) the number of individuals required by a court 

order to pay restitution in connection with a violation 

of each offense under title 18, United States Code, 

the amount of restitution required to be paid under 

each such order, and the amount of restitution actually 

paid pursuant to each such order; and 

‘‘(vii) the age, gender, race, country of origin, 

country of citizenship, and description of the role in 

the offense of individuals convicted under each offense; 

and’’. 

SEC. 603. NATIONAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING HOTLINE. 

Section 107(b)(1)(B) of the Victims of Crime Trafficking and 

Violence Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7105(b)(1)(B)) is 

amended— 

(1) by striking ‘‘Subject’’ and inserting the following: 

‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Subject’’; and 

(2) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(ii) NATIONAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING HOTLINE.— 

Beginning in fiscal year 2017, and in each fiscal year 

thereafter, of amounts made available for grants under 

Effective date. 

Grants. 

42 USC 

3796dd–8. 

Definitions. 


dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with PUBLAWS
129 STAT. 260 PUBLIC LAW 114–22—MAY 29, 2015 

paragraph (2), the Secretary of Health and Human 

Services shall make grants for a national communication system to assist victims of severe forms of trafficking in persons in communicating with service providers. The Secretary shall give priority to grant 

applicants that have experience in providing telephone 

services to victims of severe forms of trafficking in 

persons.’’. 

SEC. 604. JOB CORPS ELIGIBILITY. 

Section 144(a)(3) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity 

Act (29 U.S.C. 3194(a)(3)) is amended by adding at the end the 

following: 

‘‘(F) A victim of a severe form of trafficking in persons 

(as defined in section 103 of the Victims of Trafficking 

and Violence Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7102)). 

Notwithstanding paragraph (2), an individual described in 

this subparagraph shall not be required to demonstrate 

eligibility under such paragraph.’’. 

SEC. 605. CLARIFICATION OF AUTHORITY OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARSHALS SERVICE. 

Section 566(e)(1) of title 28, United States Code, is amended— 

(1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 

(2) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the 

end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

(3) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following: 

‘‘(D) assist State, local, and other Federal law enforcement agencies, upon the request of such an agency, in 

locating and recovering missing children.’’. 

SEC. 606. ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL STRATEGY TO COMBAT HUMAN 

TRAFFICKING. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Attorney General shall implement and 

maintain a National Strategy for Combating Human Trafficking 

(referred to in this section as the ‘‘National Strategy’’) in accordance 

with this section. 

(b) REQUIRED CONTENTS OF NATIONAL STRATEGY.—The 

National Strategy shall include the following: 

(1) Integrated Federal, State, local, and tribal efforts to 

investigate and prosecute human trafficking cases, including— 

(A) the development by each United States attorney, 

in consultation with State, local, and tribal government 

agencies, of a district-specific strategic plan to coordinate 

the identification of victims and the investigation and 

prosecution of human trafficking crimes; 

(B) the appointment of not fewer than 1 assistant 

United States attorney in each district dedicated to the 

prosecution of human trafficking cases or responsible for 

implementing the National Strategy; 

(C) the participation in any Federal, State, local, or 

tribal human trafficking task force operating in the district 

of the United States attorney; and 

(D) any other efforts intended to enhance the level 

of coordination and cooperation, as determined by the 

Attorney General. 

(2) Case coordination within the Department of Justice, 

including specific integration, coordination, and collaboration, 

42 USC 14044h. 


dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with PUBLAWS
PUBLIC LAW 114–22—MAY 29, 2015 129 STAT. 261 

as appropriate, on human trafficking investigations between 

and among the United States attorneys, the Human Trafficking 

Prosecution Unit, the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 

and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 

(3) Annual budget priorities and Federal efforts dedicated 

to preventing and combating human trafficking, including 

resources dedicated to the Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit, 

the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, the Federal 

Bureau of Investigation, and all other entities that receive 

Federal support that have a goal or mission to combat the 

exploitation of adults and children. 

(4) An ongoing assessment of the future trends, challenges, 

and opportunities, including new investigative strategies, techniques, and technologies, that will enhance Federal, State, local, 

and tribal efforts to combat human trafficking. 

(5) Encouragement of cooperation, coordination, and mutual 

support between private sector and other entities and organizations and Federal agencies to combat human trafficking, 

including the involvement of State, local, and tribal government 

agencies to the extent Federal programs are involved. 

TITLE VII—TRAFFICKING AWARENESS 

TRAINING FOR HEALTH CARE 

SEC. 701. SHORT TITLE. 

This title may be cited as the ‘‘Trafficking Awareness Training 

for Health Care Act of 2015’’. 

SEC. 702. DEVELOPMENT OF BEST PRACTICES. 

(a) GRANT OR CONTRACT FOR DEVELOPMENT OF BEST PRAC- TICES.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the date 

of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human 

Services acting through the Administrator of the Health 

Resources and Services Administration, and in consultation 

with the Administration on Children and Families and other 

agencies with experience in serving victims of human trafficking, shall award, on a competitive basis, a grant or contract 

to an eligible entity to train health care professionals to recognize and respond to victims of a severe form of trafficking. 

(2) DEVELOPMENT OF EVIDENCE-BASED BEST PRACTICES.— 

An entity receiving a grant under paragraph (1) shall develop 

evidence-based best practices for health care professionals to 

recognize and respond to victims of a severe form of trafficking, 

including— 

(A) consultation with law enforcement officials, social 

service providers, health professionals, experts in the field 

of human trafficking, and other experts, as appropriate, 

to inform the development of such best practices; 

(B) the identification of any existing best practices 

or tools for health professionals to recognize potential victims of a severe form of trafficking; and 

(C) the development of educational materials to train 

health care professionals on the best practices developed 

under this subsection. 

Deadline. 

Consultation. 

Trafficking 

Awareness 

Training for 

Health Care Act 

of 2015. 


dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with PUBLAWS
129 STAT. 262 PUBLIC LAW 114–22—MAY 29, 2015 

(3) REQUIREMENTS.—Best practices developed under this 

subsection shall address— 

(A) risk factors and indicators to recognize victims 

of a severe form of trafficking; 

(B) patient safety and security; 

(C) the management of medical records of patients 

who are victims of a severe form of trafficking; 

(D) public and private social services available for 

rescue, food, clothing, and shelter referrals; 

(E) the hotlines for reporting human trafficking maintained by the National Human Trafficking Resource Center 

and the Department of Homeland Security; 

(F) validated assessment tools for the identification 

of victims of a severe form of trafficking; and 

(G) referral options and procedures for sharing 

information on human trafficking with a patient and 

making referrals for legal and social services as appropriate. 

(4) PILOT PROGRAM.—An entity receiving a grant under 

paragraph (1) shall design and implement a pilot program 

to test the best practices and educational materials identified 

or developed with respect to the recognition of victims of human 

trafficking by health professionals at health care sites located 

near an established anti-human trafficking task force initiative 

in each of the 10 administrative regions of the Department 

of Health and Human Services. 

(5) ANALYSIS AND REPORT.—Not later than 24 months after 

the date on which an entity implements a pilot program under 

paragraph (4), the entity shall— 

(A) analyze the results of the pilot programs, including 

through an assessment of— 

(i) changes in the skills, knowledge, and attitude 

of health care professionals resulting from the 

implementation of the program; 

(ii) the number of victims of a severe form of 

trafficking who were identified under the program; 

(iii) of those victims identified, the number who 

received information or referrals for services offered; 

and 

(iv) of those victims who received such information 

or referrals— 

(I) the number who participated in follow up 

services; and 

(II) the type of follow up services received; 

(B) determine, using the results of the analysis conducted under subparagraph (A), the extent to which the 

best practices developed under this subsection are evidencebased; and 

(C) submit to the Secretary of Health and Human 

Services a report concerning the pilot program and the 

analysis of the pilot program under subparagraph (A), 

including an identification of the best practices that were 

identified as effective and those that require further review. 

(b) DISSEMINATION.—Not later than 30 months after date on 

which a grant is awarded to an eligible entity under subsection 

(a), the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall— 

Deadline. 

Reports. 

Determination. 


dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with PUBLAWS
PUBLIC LAW 114–22—MAY 29, 2015 129 STAT. 263 

(1) collaborate with appropriate professional associations 

and health care professional schools to disseminate best practices identified or developed under subsection (a) for purposes 

of recognizing potential victims of a severe form of trafficking; 

and 

(2) post on the public website of the Department of Health 

and Human Services the best practices that are identified by 

the pilot program as effective under subsection (a)(5). 

SEC. 703. DEFINITIONS. 

In this title: 

(1) The term ‘‘eligible entity’’ means an accredited school 

of medicine or nursing with experience in the study or treatment of victims of a severe form of trafficking. 

(2) The term ‘‘eligible site’’ means a health center that 

is receiving assistance under section 330, 399Z–1, or 1001 of 

the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254b, 280h–5, and 

300). 

(3) The term ‘‘health care professional’’ means a person 

employed by a health care provider who provides to patients 

information (including information not related to medical treatment), scheduling, services, or referrals. 

(4) The term ‘‘HIPAA privacy and security law’’ has the 

meaning given to such term in section 3009 of the Public 

Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300jj–19). 

(5) The term ‘‘victim of a severe form of trafficking’’ has 

the meaning given to such term in section 103 of the Trafficking 

Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7102). 

SEC. 704. NO ADDITIONAL AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry 

out this title, and this title shall be carried out using amounts 

otherwise available for such purpose. 

TITLE VIII—BETTER RESPONSE FOR 

VICTIMS OF CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING 

SEC. 801. SHORT TITLE. 

This title may be cited as the ‘‘Ensuring a Better Response 

for Victims of Child Sex Trafficking’’. 

SEC. 802. CAPTA AMENDMENTS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The amendments to the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5101 et seq.) made by this 

section shall take effect 2 years after the date of the enactment 

of this Act. 

(b) STATE PLANS.—Section 106 of the Child Abuse Prevention 

and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5106a) is amended— 

(1) in subsection (b)(2)(B)— 

(A) in clause (xxii), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; and 

(B) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(xxiv) provisions and procedures requiring identification and assessment of all reports involving children known or suspected to be victims of sex trafficking 

(as defined in section 103(10) of the Trafficking Victims 

Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7102 (10)); and 

42 USC 5106a 

note. 

Effective date. 

Ensuring a 

Better Response 

for Victims of 

Child Sex 

Trafficking. 

42 USC 5101 

note. 

Web posting. 

Collaboration. 


dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with PUBLAWS
129 STAT. 264 PUBLIC LAW 114–22—MAY 29, 2015 

‘‘(xxv) provisions and procedures for training child 

protective services workers about identifying, 

assessing, and providing comprehensive services for 

children who are sex trafficking victims, including 

efforts to coordinate with State law enforcement, juvenile justice, and social service agencies such as runaway and homeless youth shelters to serve this population;’’; and 

(2) in subsection (d), by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(17) The number of children determined to be victims 

described in subsection (b)(2)(B)(xxiv).’’. 

(c) SPECIAL RULE.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 111 of the Child Abuse Prevention 

and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5106g) is amended— 

(A) by striking ‘‘For purposes’’ and inserting the following: 

‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes’’; and 

(B) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(b) SPECIAL RULE.— 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of section 3(2) and subsection (a)(4), a child shall be considered a victim of ‘child 

abuse and neglect’ and of ‘sexual abuse’ if the child is identified, 

by a State or local agency employee of the State or locality 

involved, as being a victim of sex trafficking (as defined in 

paragraph (10) of section 103 of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7102)) or a victim of severe forms 

of trafficking in persons described in paragraph (9)(A) of that 

section. 

‘‘(2) STATE OPTION.—Notwithstanding the definition of 

‘child’ in section 3(1), a State may elect to define that term 

for purposes of the application of paragraph (1) to section 

3(2) and subsection (a)(4) as a person who has not attained 

the age of 24.’’. 

(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 3(2) of the Child 

Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5101 note) 

is amended by inserting ‘‘(including sexual abuse as determined 

under section 111)’’ after ‘‘sexual abuse or exploitation’’. 

(3) TECHNICAL CORRECTION.—Paragraph (5)(C) of subsection (a), as so designated, of section 111 of the Child Abuse 

Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5106g) is amended 

by striking ‘‘inhumane;’’ and inserting ‘‘inhumane.’’. 

TITLE IX—ANTI-TRAFFICKING TRAINING FOR DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY PERSONNEL 

SEC. 901. DEFINITIONS. 

In this title: 

(1) DEPARTMENT.—The term ‘‘Department’’ means the 

Department of Homeland Security. 

(2) HUMAN TRAFFICKING.—The term ‘‘human trafficking’’ 

means an act or practice described in paragraph (9) or (10) 

of section 103 of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 

2000 (22 U.S.C. 7102). 

6 USC 641. 


dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with PUBLAWS
PUBLIC LAW 114–22—MAY 29, 2015 129 STAT. 265 

(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary 

of Homeland Security. 

SEC. 902. TRAINING FOR DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL TO IDENTIFY 

HUMAN TRAFFICKING. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the date of 

the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall implement a program 

to— 

(1) train and periodically retrain relevant Transportation 

Security Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, 

and other Department personnel that the Secretary considers 

appropriate, with respect to how to effectively deter, detect, 

and disrupt human trafficking, and, where appropriate, interdict a suspected perpetrator of human trafficking, during the 

course of their primary roles and responsibilities; and 

(2) ensure that the personnel referred to in paragraph 

(1) regularly receive current information on matters related 

to the detection of human trafficking, including information 

that becomes available outside of the Department’s initial or 

periodic retraining schedule, to the extent relevant to their 

official duties and consistent with applicable information and 

privacy laws. 

(b) TRAINING DESCRIBED.—The training referred to in subsection (a) may be conducted through in-class or virtual learning 

capabilities, and shall include— 

(1) methods for identifying suspected victims of human 

trafficking and, where appropriate, perpetrators of human trafficking; 

(2) for appropriate personnel, methods to approach a suspected victim of human trafficking, where appropriate, in a 

manner that is sensitive to the suspected victim and is not 

likely to alert a suspected perpetrator of human trafficking; 

(3) training that is most appropriate for a particular location or environment in which the personnel receiving such 

training perform their official duties; 

(4) other topics determined by the Secretary to be appropriate; and 

(5) a post-training evaluation for personnel receiving the 

training. 

(c) TRAINING CURRICULUM REVIEW.—The Secretary shall 

annually reassess the training program established under subsection (a) to ensure it is consistent with current techniques, patterns, and trends associated with human trafficking. 

SEC. 903. CERTIFICATION AND REPORT TO CONGRESS. 

(a) CERTIFICATION.—Not later than 1 year after the date of 

the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall certify to Congress 

that all personnel referred to in section 402(a) have successfully 

completed the training required under that section. 

(b) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 1 year after the 

date of the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, the 

Secretary shall report to Congress with respect to the overall 

effectiveness of the program required by this title, the number 

of cases reported by Department personnel in which human trafficking was suspected, and, of those cases, the number of cases 

that were confirmed cases of human trafficking. 

6 USC 643. 

Deadline. 

6 USC 642. 


dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with PUBLAWS
129 STAT. 266 PUBLIC LAW 114–22—MAY 29, 2015 

SEC. 904. ASSISTANCE TO NON-FEDERAL ENTITIES. 

The Secretary may provide training curricula to any State, 

local, or tribal government or private organization to assist the 

government or organization in establishing a program of training 

to identify human trafficking, upon request from the government 

or organization. 

SEC. 905. EXPANDED USE OF DOMESTIC TRAFFICKING VICTIMS’ FUND. 

Section 3014(e)(1) of title 18, United States Code, as added 

by section 101 of this Act, is amended— 

(1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 

(2) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the 

end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

(3) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(D) section 106 of the PROTECT Our Children Act 

of 2008 (42 U.S.C. 17616).’’. 

TITLE X—HUMAN TRAFFICKING SURVIVORS RELIEF AND EMPOWERMENT 

ACT 

SEC. 1001. SHORT TITLE. 

This title may be cited as the ‘‘Human Trafficking Survivors 

Relief and Empowerment Act of 2015’’. 

SEC. 1002. PROTECTIONS FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING SURVIVORS. 

Section 1701(c) of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and 

Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796dd(c)), as amended by 

section 601 of this Act, is amended— 

(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end; 

(2) in paragraph (2)(C), by striking the period at the end 

and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 

(3) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following: 

‘‘(3) from an applicant in a State that has in effect a 

law— 

‘‘(A) that— 

‘‘(i) provides a process by which an individual who 

is a human trafficking survivor can move to vacate 

any arrest or conviction records for a non-violent 

offense committed as a direct result of human trafficking, including prostitution or lewdness; 

‘‘(ii) establishes a rebuttable presumption that any 

arrest or conviction of an individual for an offense 

associated with human trafficking is a result of being 

trafficked, if the individual— 

‘‘(I) is a person granted nonimmigrant status 

pursuant to section 101(a)(15)(T)(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 

1101(a)(15)(T)(i)); 

‘‘(II) is the subject of a certification by the 

Secretary of Health and Human Services under 

section 107(b)(1)(E) of the Trafficking Victims 

Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7105(b)(1)(E)); 

or 

42 USC 3711 

note. 

Human 

Trafficking 

Survivors Relief 

and 

Empowerment 

Act of 2015. 

6 USC 644. 


dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with PUBLAWS
PUBLIC LAW 114–22—MAY 29, 2015 129 STAT. 267 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 178: 

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 161 (2015): 

Mar. 10–12, 16–19, Apr. 14, 16, 20–22, considered and passed Senate. 

May 18, 19, considered and passed House. 

Æ 

‘‘(III) has other similar documentation of trafficking, which has been issued by a Federal, State, 

or local agency; and 

‘‘(iii) protects the identity of individuals who are 

human trafficking survivors in public and court 

records; and 

‘‘(B) that does not require an individual who is a human 

trafficking survivor to provide official documentation as 

described in subclause (I), (II), or (III) of subparagraph 

(A)(ii) in order to receive protection under the law.’’. 

Approved May 29, 2015. 


dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with PUBLAWS