Stop Exploitation Through Trafficking Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-166
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2015-01-13
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Child safety and welfare

Civil actions and liability

Congressional oversight

Crime prevention

Crime victims

Crimes against children

Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation

Criminal justice information and records

Government information and archives

Human trafficking

Intergovernmental relations

Law enforcement administration and funding

Sex offenses

State and local government operations
Latest action: action_date: 2015-03-02
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 25.

Summaries:
action_date: 2015-01-13
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Stop Exploitation Through Trafficking Act of 2015</b></p> <p> Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to authorize the Attorney General to give preferential consideration in awarding Community Oriented Police Services (COPS) grants to an application from an applicant in a state that has in effect a law that: (1) 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; (2) discourages or prohibits the charging or prosecution of such individual for a prostitution or sex trafficking offense based on such conduct; or (3) encourages the diversion of such an individual to appropriate service providers, including child welfare services, victim treatment programs, child advocacy centers, rape crisis centers, or other social services.</p> <p>Amends the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000 (VTVPA) to require the Attorney General's annual report on federal agencies that are implementing provisions relating to the Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking to include information on the activities of such agencies in cooperation with state, tribal, and local law enforcement officials to identify, investigate, and prosecute the following offenses: (1) sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion or with a minor; (2) sexual exploitation of children; (3) the selling and buying of children; (4) transportation with intent that the victim engage in illegal sexual activity; (5) coercion or enticement to travel for illegal sexual activity; and (6) transportation of minors for illegal sexual activity. Requires such information to include: (1) the number of individuals required by a court order to pay restitution in connection with a violation of each offense and the amount of such restitution; and (2) the age, gender, race, country of origin, country of citizenship, and description of the role of individuals convicted under each offense.</p> <p>Amends the VTVPA to require the Department of Health and Human Services, annually beginning in FY2017, to make grants for a national communication system to assist victims of severe forms of trafficking in persons in communicating with service providers.</p> <p>Amends the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to include victims of a severe form of trafficking in persons among those eligible for the Job Corps without being required to demonstrate low-income eligibility.</p> <p>Authorizes the United States Marshals Service to assist state, local, and other federal law enforcement agencies, upon request, in locating and recovering missing children.</p> <p>Directs the Attorney General to implement and maintain a National Strategy for Combating Human Trafficking that includes: (1) integrated federal, state, local, and tribal efforts to investigate and prosecute human trafficking cases; (2) case coordination within the Department of Justice; (3) annual budget priorities and federal efforts dedicated to preventing and combating human trafficking; (4) an ongoing assessment of future trends, challenges, and opportunities; and (5) encouragement of cooperation, coordination, and mutual support between the private sector and federal agencies to combat human trafficking.</p>

action_date: 2015-03-02
action_desc: Reported to Senate with amendment(s)
text: <p><b>Stop Exploitation Through Trafficking Act of 2015</b></p> <p> (Sec. 2) Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to authorize the Attorney General to give preferential consideration in awarding Community Oriented Police Services (COPS) grants to an application from an applicant in a state that has in effect a law that: (1) 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; (2) discourages or prohibits the charging or prosecution of such individual for a prostitution or sex trafficking offense based on such conduct; or (3) encourages the diversion of such an individual to appropriate service providers, including child welfare services, victim treatment programs, child advocacy centers, rape crisis centers, or other social services.</p> <p>(Sec. 3) Amends the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000 (VTVPA) to require the Attorney General's annual report on federal agencies that are implementing provisions relating to the Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking to include information on the activities of such agencies in cooperation with state, tribal, and local law enforcement officials to identify, investigate, and prosecute the following offenses: (1) sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion or with a minor; (2) sexual exploitation of children; (3) the selling and buying of children; (4) transportation with intent that the victim engage in illegal sexual activity; (5) coercion or enticement to travel for illegal sexual activity; and (6) transportation of minors for illegal sexual activity. Requires such information to include: (1) the number of individuals required by a court order to pay restitution in connection with a violation of each offense and the amount of such restitution; and (2) the age, gender, race, country of origin, country of citizenship, and description of the role of individuals convicted under each offense.</p> <p>(Sec. 4) Amends the VTVPA to require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), annually beginning in FY2017, to make grants for a national communication system to assist victims of severe forms of trafficking in persons in communicating with service providers. Directs HHS to give priority to grant applicants that have experience in providing telephone services to victims of severe forms of trafficking in persons.</p> <p>(Sec. 5) Amends the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to include victims of a severe form of trafficking in persons among those eligible for the Job Corps without being required to demonstrate low-income eligibility.</p> <p>(Sec. 6) Amends the federal judicial code to authorize the United States Marshals Service to assist state, local, and other federal law enforcement agencies, upon request, in locating and recovering missing children.</p> <p>(Sec. 7) Directs the Attorney General to implement and maintain a National Strategy for Combating Human Trafficking that includes: (1) integrated federal, state, local, and tribal efforts to investigate and prosecute human trafficking cases; (2) case coordination within the Department of Justice; (3) annual budget priorities and federal efforts dedicated to preventing and combating human trafficking; (4) an ongoing assessment of future trends, challenges, and opportunities; and (5) encouragement of cooperation, coordination, and mutual support between the private sector and federal agencies to combat human trafficking.</p>

tv_txt: II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 166 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES January 13, 2015 Ms. Klobuchar (for herself, Mr. Cornyn , Ms. Heitkamp , Mr. Kirk , Ms. Stabenow , Mr. McCain , Mr. Warner , Ms. Ayotte , Mr. Franken , Mr. Hoeven , Mr. Blumenthal , Mr. Coats , Ms. Hirono , and Mrs. Gillibrand ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To stop exploitation through trafficking.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Stop Exploitation Through Trafficking Act of 2015 . 2. 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— (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 ). . 3. 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 . 4. National human trafficking hotline Section 107(b)(2) of the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000 ( 22 U.S.C. 7105(b)(2) ) is amended— (1) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) and (C) as subparagraphs (C) and (D), respectively; and (2) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following: (B) National human trafficking hotline Beginning in fiscal year 2017 and each fiscal year thereafter, of amounts made available for grants under this paragraph, 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. . 5. 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. . 6. 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. . 7. 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, 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.

tv_txt: II Calendar No. 25 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 166 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES January 13, 2015 Ms. Klobuchar (for herself, Mr. Cornyn , Ms. Heitkamp , Mr. Kirk , Ms. Stabenow , Mr. McCain , Mr. Warner , Ms. Ayotte , Mr. Franken , Mr. Hoeven , Mr. Blumenthal , Mr. Coats , Ms. Hirono , Mrs. Gillibrand , Mr. Booker , Mr. Wicker , Mrs. McCaskill , Mrs. Capito , Mr. Schumer , Mr. Leahy , Mr. Coons , Ms. Baldwin , Mrs. Feinstein , Mr. Whitehouse , Mr. Hatch , and Ms. Collins ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary March 2, 2015 Reported by Mr. Grassley , with an amendment Omit the part struck through and insert the part printed in italic A BILL To stop exploitation through trafficking.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Stop Exploitation Through Trafficking Act of 2015 . 2. 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— (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 ). . 3. 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 . 4. National human trafficking hotline Section 107(b)(2) of the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000 ( 22 U.S.C. 7105(b)(2) ) is amended— (1) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) and (C) as subparagraphs (C) and (D), respectively; and (2) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following: “(B) National human trafficking hotline Beginning in fiscal year 2017 and each fiscal year thereafter, of amounts made available for grants under this paragraph, the 4. 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 (i) In general .—Subject ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (ii) National human trafficking hotline Beginning in fiscal year 2017 and each fiscal year thereafter, of amounts made available for grants under 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. . 5. 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. . 6. 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. . 7. 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, 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.

March 2, 2015 Reported with an amendment