Put Trafficking Victims First Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-2473
Sponsor: Rep. Wagner, Ann [R-MO-2]
Introduced: 2017-05-16 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Child health
Child safety and welfare
Congressional oversight
Crime victims
Crimes against children
Crimes against women
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Human trafficking
Juvenile crime and gang violence
Labor standards
Law enforcement administration and funding
Sex offenses
State and local government operations
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-16
text: 

Enforcing Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2017

 
This bill requires the Department of Justice (DOJ), in coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services, to provide training and technical assistance to help federal, state, local, and tribal governments combat, and assist victims of, human trafficking.
 
The National Institute of Justice must: 
 
 
establish a working group to identify best practices for collecting data on human trafficking; 
 
report on efforts to develop a national methodology to determine the prevalence of human trafficking in the United States, best practices to determine the prevalence of human trafficking, and the effectiveness of current policies and procedures to address victims' needs; and 
 
coordinate with federal, state, local, and tribal governments, and private organizations, to conduct a census of human trafficking survivors to estimate the prevalence of human trafficking in the United States.
 
 
DOJ must report on efforts to increase mandatory restitution orders and asset forfeiture to provide restitution to victims of trafficking.
 
Finally, the bill encourages states to implement certain protections for victims of trafficking. 

action_date: 2017-05-23
text: 

Put Trafficking Victims First Act of 2017

 
(Sec. 2) This bill directs the Office for Victims of Crime within the Department of Justice (DOJ) to publish a report on state safe harbor laws, including: (1) the impact of state safe harbor laws on victims of trafficking, and (2) best practices and recommendations on the development and implementation of effective state safe harbor laws.
 
(Sec. 3) The bill amends the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000 to modify requirements with respect to the allocation of trafficking victim services grant funds for training and technical assistance. Specifically, it requires training and technical assistance to be provided in coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services. Additionally, it broadens the areas of training and technical assistance to include, among others, investigating, prosecuting, and preventing human trafficking through a trauma-informed and victim-centered approach.
 
(Sec. 4) The National Institute of Justice must:
 
 
 establish a working group to identify and recommend best practices for collecting data on human trafficking;
 
report on efforts to develop methodologies to determine the prevalence of human trafficking in the United States; and 
 
coordinate with federal, state, local, and tribal governments, and private organizations, to survey survivors to estimate the prevalence of human trafficking in the United States. 
 
 
(Sec. 5) DOJ must report on efforts to increase mandatory restitution orders and asset forfeiture to provide restitution to victims of trafficking.
 
(Sec. 6) The bill encourages states to implement certain protections for victims of trafficking. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-24
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2017-05-23
text: The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2017-05-23
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2017-05-23
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4484-4486)
action_date: 2017-05-23
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H4484-4486)
action_date: 2017-05-23
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2473.
action_date: 2017-05-23
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4484-4489)
action_date: 2017-05-23
text: Mr. Goodlatte moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2017-05-18
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2017-05-18
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2017-05-16
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.
action_date: 2017-05-16
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2017-05-16
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2017-05-16
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2017-05-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-05-16
text: Introduced in House