An act to designate a human trafficking prevention coordinator and to expand the scope of activities authorized under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's outreach and education program to include human trafficking prevention activities, and for other purposes
PL 115-99 (S.1536), enacted 01/03/2018

131 STAT. 2242 
PUBLIC LAW 115–99—JAN. 3, 2018 
Public Law 115–99 
115th Congress 
An Act 
To designate a human trafficking prevention coordinator and to expand the scope 
of activities authorized under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s 
outreach and education program to include human trafficking prevention activities, 
and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Combating Human Trafficking 
in Commercial Vehicles Act’’. 
SEC. 2. HUMAN TRAFFICKING PREVENTION COORDINATOR. 
The Secretary of Transportation shall designate an official 
within the Department of Transportation who shall— 
(1) coordinate human trafficking prevention efforts across 
modal administrations in the Department of Transportation 
and with other departments and agencies of the Federal 
Government; and 
(2) in coordinating such efforts, take into account the 
unique challenges of combating human trafficking within dif-
ferent transportation modes. 
SEC. 3. EXPANSION OF OUTREACH AND EDUCATION PROGRAM. 
Section 31110(c)(1) of title 49, United States Code, is amended 
by adding at the end the following: ‘‘The program authorized under 
this subsection may support, in addition to funds otherwise avail-
able for such purposes, the recognition, prevention, and reporting 
of human trafficking, while deferring to existing resources, as prac-
ticable.’’. 
SEC. 4. EXPANSION OF COMMERCIAL DRIVER’S LICENSE FINANCIAL 
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. 
Section 31313(a)(3) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (D), by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end; 
(2) by redesignating subparagraph (E) as subparagraph 
(F); and 
(3) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following: 
‘‘(E) support, in addition to funds otherwise available 
for such purposes, the recognition, prevention, and 
reporting of human trafficking; or’’. 
49 USC 102 note. 
Combating 
Human 
Trafficking in 
Commercial 
Vehicles Act. 
49 USC 30101 
note. 
Jan. 3, 2018 
[S. 1536] 
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131 STAT. 2243 
PUBLIC LAW 115–99—JAN. 3, 2018 
SEC. 5. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 
ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish an advisory 
committee on human trafficking. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(1) COMPOSITION.—The Committee shall be composed of 
not more than 15 external stakeholder members whose diverse 
experience and background enable them to provide balanced 
points of view with regard to carrying out the duties of the 
Committee. 
(2) SELECTION.—The Secretary shall appoint the external 
stakeholder members to the Committee, including representa-
tives from— 
(A) trafficking advocacy organizations; 
(B) law enforcement; and 
(C) trucking, bus, rail, aviation, maritime, and port 
sectors, including industry and labor. 
(3) PERIODS OF APPOINTMENT.—Members shall be appointed 
for the life of the Committee. 
(4) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Committee shall be filled 
in the manner in which the original appointment was made 
and shall not affect the powers or duties of the Committee. 
(5) COMPENSATION.—Committee members shall serve with-
out compensation. 
(c) AUTHORITY.—Not later than 9 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish and appoint 
all members of the Committee. 
(d) DUTIES.— 
(1) RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPOR-
TATION.—Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Committee shall make recommendations to 
the Secretary on actions the Department can take to help 
combat human trafficking, including the development and 
implementation of— 
(A) successful strategies for identifying and reporting 
instances of human trafficking; and 
(B) recommendations for administrative or legislative 
changes necessary to use programs, properties, or other 
resources owned, operated, or funded by the Department 
to combat human trafficking. 
(2) BEST PRACTICES AND RECOMMENDATIONS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Committee shall develop rec-
ommended best practices for States and State and local 
transportation stakeholders to follow in combating human 
trafficking. 
(B) DEVELOPMENT.—The best practices shall be based 
on multidisciplinary research and promising, evidence- 
based models and programs. 
(C) CONTENT.—The best practices shall be user- 
friendly, incorporate the most up-to-date technology, and 
include the following: 
(i) Sample training materials. 
(ii) Strategies to identify victims. 
(iii) 
Sample 
protocols 
and 
recommendations, 
including— 
(I) strategies to collect, document, and share 
data across systems and agencies; 
Strategies. 
Strategies. 
Deadline. 
Deadline. 
Appointments. 
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131 STAT. 2244 
PUBLIC LAW 115–99—JAN. 3, 2018 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 1536 (H.R. 3813): 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 115–467 (Comm. on Transportation and Infrastructure) 
accompanying H.R. 3813. 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 115–177 (Comm. on Commerce, Science, and Transporta-
tion). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 163 (2017): 
Sept. 14, considered and passed Senate. 
Dec. 19, considered and passed House. 
(II) strategies to help agencies better under-
stand the types of trafficking involved, the scope 
of the problem, and the degree of victim interaction 
with multiple systems; and 
(III) strategies to identify effective pathways 
for State agencies to utilize their position in edu-
cating critical stakeholder groups and assisting vic-
tims. 
(D) INFORMING STATES OF BEST PRACTICES.—The Sec-
retary shall ensure that State Governors and State depart-
ments of transportation are notified of the best practices 
and recommendations. 
(e) REPORTS.—Not later than 2 years after the date of enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary shall— 
(1) submit a report on the actions of the Committee 
described in subsection (d) to— 
(A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate; and 
(B) the Committee on Transportation and Infrastruc-
ture of the House of Representatives; and 
(2) make the report under paragraph (1) publicly available 
both physically and online. 
(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) COMMITTEE.—The term ‘‘Committee’’ means the Depart-
ment of Transportation Advisory Committee on Human Traf-
ficking established under subsection (a). 
(2) HUMAN TRAFFICKING.—The term ‘‘human trafficking’’ 
means an act or practice described in paragraph (9) or para-
graph (10) of section 103 of the Trafficking Victims Protection 
Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7102). 
(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary 
of Transportation. 
Approved January 3, 2018. 
Public 
information. 
Web posting. 
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