Trafficking in Persons Accountability Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-1703
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2007-06-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Children's rights
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Families
Forced labor
Human rights
International Affairs
Jurisdiction
Labor and Employment
Law
Prosecution
Prostitution
Sex-oriented businesses
Slavery
Smuggling
Women
Women's rights

Summary:
action_date: 2007-06-27
text: 
Trafficking in Persons Accountability Act of 2007 - Amends the federal criminal code to grant U.S. courts jurisdiction over cases involving peonage, slavery, and trafficking in persons in which, not later than ten years after an alleged offense occurs, the alleged offender is brought into, or found in, the United States, even if such offense occurred outside the United States.

action_date: 2008-07-28
text: 
Trafficking in Persons Accountability Act of 2007 - Amends the federal criminal code to grant U.S. courts additional extraterritorial jurisdiction over criminal offenses involving peonage, slavery, sales of persons into involuntary servitude, forced labor, trafficking in persons, and sex trafficking of children if: (1) the alleged offender or victim of any such offense is a national or permanent resident of the United States; or (2) the alleged offender is present in the United States, irrespective of the nationality of such offender. 

Prohibits U.S. prosecution of an alleged trafficking offender who is prosecuted by a foreign government whose jurisdiction is recognized by the United States, except upon the approval of the Attorney General or the Deputy Attorney General. 

action_date: 2008-10-01
text: 
Trafficking in Persons Accountability Act of 2008 - Amends the federal criminal code to grant U.S. courts additional extraterritorial jurisdiction over criminal offenses involving peonage, slavery, sales of persons into involuntary servitude, forced labor, trafficking in persons, and sex trafficking of children if: (1) the alleged offender is a national or permanent resident of the United States; or (2) the alleged offender is present in the United States, irrespective of the nationality of such offender. 

Prohibits U.S. prosecution of an alleged trafficking offender who is prosecuted by a foreign government whose jurisdiction is recognized by the United States, except upon the approval of the Attorney General or the Deputy Attorney General. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-10-02
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2008-10-02
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2008-10-02
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2008-10-01
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2008-10-01
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2008-10-01
text: The committee substitute as amended agreed to by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2008-10-01
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S10388-10390; text of measures as reported in Senate: CR S10389)
action_date: 2008-07-28
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 903.
action_date: 2008-07-28
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2008-07-28
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2007-09-20
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
action_date: 2007-06-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2007-06-27
text: Introduced in Senate