Prevent Trafficking in Our Schools Act

Bill: 116-hr-4580
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Yoho, Ted S. [R-FL-3]
Introduced: 2019-09-27
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Child safety and welfare

Congressional oversight

Crime prevention

Crime victims

Crimes against children

Educational technology and distance education

Elementary and secondary education

Government information and archives

Human trafficking

Performance measurement

School administration

Teaching, teachers, curricula
Latest action: action_date: 2019-09-27
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

Summaries:
action_date: 2019-09-27
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Prevent Trafficking in Our Schools Act</b></p> <p>This bill directs (1) the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Education (ED) to jointly carry out a pilot program under which qualified DHS personnel provide annual human trafficking awareness training to ED personnel and to teachers, school leaders, and other personnel of elementary schools and secondary schools; and (2) ED to develop and implement a public awareness program on the threat of human trafficking in the education system.</p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 4580 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 27, 2019 Mr. Yoho (for himself, Mr. Van Drew , Mr. Cuellar , and Mr. Mooney of West Virginia ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor A BILL To direct the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of Education to carry out programs to combat human trafficking in schools.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Prevent Trafficking in Our Schools Act . 2. Pilot program for human trafficking awareness training (a) In general Beginning not later than 150 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretaries concerned shall jointly carry out a pilot program under which qualified personnel of the Department of Homeland Security provide annual human trafficking awareness training— (1) to personnel of the Department of Education; and (2) to teachers, school leaders, and other personnel of elementary schools and secondary schools. (b) Training The annual training provided under subsection (a) shall consist of training consistent with the anti-human trafficking campaign of the Department of Homeland Security commonly known as the Blue Campaign , including the following: (1) Instruction in methods that the personnel described in subsection (a) can use to identify and respond to suspected victims and perpetrators of human trafficking. (2) Training tailored to the specific location or environment in which the personnel receiving the training perform official duties. (3) An explanation of trends and topics determined by the Secretaries concerned to increase the likelihood that human trafficking will be detected and investigated in classrooms and the environment in the school system. (4) Best practices for referring human trafficking cases to the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, and State and local law enforcement agencies. (c) Mode of training The training under subsection (a) may be provided through— (1) in-class instruction, which may include instruction at the facilities of local law enforcement agencies; or (2) distance education (as that term is defined in section 103(7) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1003(7) )). (d) Termination The authority to carry out the training program under this section shall terminate on the date that is four years after the date of the enactment of this Act. (e) Report (1) In general Not later than three years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Education shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the training program carried out under this section. (2) Elements The report under paragraph (1) shall include the following: (A) An assessment of the effectiveness of the training program at the Federal, State, and local levels. (B) The number of educators and administrative personnel who received training under the program. (C) The number of human trafficking cases identified and referred to Federal, State, and local authorities as a result of the training program. (D) A description of the data metrics used to track— (i) local, State, and Federal cases referred to social or victims service agencies or organizations; and (ii) the outcomes of such referrals. (E) A recommendation concerning whether the training program should be permanently authorized. 3. Human trafficking public awareness program (a) In general The Secretary of Education shall develop and implement a public awareness program to provide information to the public on the threat of human trafficking in the education system. (b) Elements In carrying out the program under subsection (a), the Secretary shall— (1) leverage partnerships to educate students, parents, and the larger community on the threat of human trafficking in the education system; and (2) assist human trafficking victims in obtaining rehabilitative services by providing such victims with information on private, public, or nonprofit organizations that offer such services. 4. Definitions In this Act: (1) ESEA Terms The terms elementary school , school leader , and secondary school have the meanings given the terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7801 ). (2) Human trafficking The term human trafficking means an act or practice described in paragraph (9) or paragraph (10) of section 103 of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 ( 22 U.S.C. 7102 ). (3) Secretaries concerned The term Secretaries concerned means the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Homeland Security.