Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-1738
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2013-11-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Adoption and foster care
Child safety and welfare
Congressional oversight
Crime victims
Crimes against children
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal justice information and records
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Department of Health and Human Services
Department of Justice
Domestic violence and child abuse
Evidence and witnesses
Executive agency funding and structure
Family services
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Government trust funds
Health programs administration and funding
Home and outpatient care
Human trafficking
Judicial procedure and administration
Juvenile crime and gang violence
Law enforcement administration and funding
Law enforcement officers
Organized crime
Pornography
Sex offenses
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Transportation costs
Travel and tourism
Violent crime
Vocational and technical education

Summary:
action_date: 2013-11-19
text: 
Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2013 - Amends the federal criminal code to impose an additional penalty of $5,000 on any person or entity convicted of crimes relating to: (1) peonage, slavery, and trafficking in persons; (2) sexual abuse; (3) sexual exploitation and other abuse of children; (4) transportation for illegal sexual activity; or (5) human smuggling in violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Establishes in the Treasury the Domestic Trafficking Victims' Fund into which such penalties shall be deposited and which shall be used in FY2015-FY2019 to award grants or enhance victims' programming under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005, and the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990. Allots funds to provide services for child pornography victims. 
 
Amends the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to make a determination, based on credible evidence, that a covered individual (i.e., a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident) has been a victim of a severe form of trafficking.
 
Amends the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005 to authorize the Attorney General to award block grants to develop, improve, or expand comprehensive domestic child trafficking deterrence programs to rescue and restore the lives of trafficking victims, while investigating and prosecuting offenses involving child trafficking.
 
Amends the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990 to include human trafficking and the production of child pornography within the definition of child abuse for purposes of such Act.
 
Amends the federal criminal code to: (1) increase restitution for victims of human trafficking; (2) set forth provisions for combating aggravated human trafficking racketeering; (3) allow state and local prosecutors to obtain wiretap warrants in state courts for investigations into human trafficking, child sexual exploitation, and child pornography production; (4) increase penalties for offenses involving enticement into slavery, sex trafficking of children, child exploitation, and repeat sex offenders; and (5) revise the definition of the crime of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct to facilitate prosecutions of such crime.
 
Directs the Attorney General to ensure that all task forces and working groups within the Innocence Lost National Initiative engage in activities, programs, or operations to increase the investigative capabilities of law enforcement personnel in the detection, investigation, and prosecution of persons who patronize or solicit children for sex. 
 
Requires the Attorney General to audit grants awarded under the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005. Imposes limits on the use of Department of Justice (DOJ) funds for DOJ conferences involving more than $20,000.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-11-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8193-8197)
action_date: 2013-11-19
text: Introduced in Senate