An act to provide assistance in abolishing human trafficking in the United States
PL 115-392 (S.1311), enacted 12/21/2018

132 STAT. 5250 
PUBLIC LAW 115–392—DEC. 21, 2018 
Public Law 115–392 
115th Congress 
An Act 
To provide assistance in abolishing human trafficking in the United States. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Abolish Human 
Trafficking Act of 2017’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for this Act 
is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Preserving Domestic Trafficking Victims’ Fund. 
Sec. 3. Mandatory restitution for victims of commercial sexual exploitation. 
Sec. 4. Victim-witness assistance in sexual exploitation cases. 
Sec. 5. Victim protection training for the Department of Homeland Security. 
Sec. 6. Direct services for child victims of human trafficking. 
Sec. 7. Holistic training for Federal law enforcement officers and prosecutors. 
Sec. 8. Best practices in delivering justice for victims of trafficking. 
Sec. 9. Improving the national strategy to combat human trafficking. 
Sec. 10. Specialized human trafficking training and technical assistance for service 
providers. 
Sec. 11. Enhanced penalties for human trafficking, child exploitation, and repeat 
offenders. 
Sec. 12. Targeting organized human trafficking perpetrators. 
Sec. 13. Investigating complex human trafficking networks. 
Sec. 14. Combating sex tourism. 
Sec. 15. Human Trafficking Justice Coordinators. 
Sec. 16. Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Human Trafficking. 
Sec. 17. Additional reporting on crime. 
Sec. 18. Strengthening the national human trafficking hotline. 
Sec. 19. Ending Government partnerships with the commercial sex industry. 
Sec. 20. Understanding the effects of severe forms of trafficking in persons. 
Sec. 21. Combating trafficking in persons. 
Sec. 22. Grant accountability. 
Sec. 23. HERO Act improvements. 
SEC. 2. PRESERVING DOMESTIC TRAFFICKING VICTIMS’ FUND. 
(a) SENSE
OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress that 
the Domestic Trafficking Victims’ Fund established under section 
3014 of title 18, United States Code— 
(1) is intended to supplement, and not supplant, any other 
funding for domestic trafficking victims; and 
(2) has achieved the objective described in paragraph (1) 
since the establishment of the Fund. 
(b) ENSURING FULL FUNDING.—Section 3014 of title 18, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), in the matter preceding paragraph 
(1), by striking ‘‘September 30, 2019’’ and inserting ‘‘September 
30, 2021’’; 
(2) in subsection (e)(1), in the matter preceding subpara-
graph (A), by striking ‘‘2019’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’; 
18 USC 1 note. 
Abolish Human 
Trafficking Act 
of 2017. 
Dec. 21, 2018 
[S. 1311] 
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132 STAT. 5251 
PUBLIC LAW 115–392—DEC. 21, 2018 
(3) in subsection (f), by inserting ‘‘, including the mandatory 
imposition of civil remedies for satisfaction of an unpaid fine 
as authorized under section 3613, where appropriate’’ after 
‘‘criminal cases’’; and 
(4) in subsection (h)(3), by inserting ‘‘and child victims 
of a severe form of trafficking (as defined in section 103 of 
the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000 
(22 U.S.C. 7102))’’ after ‘‘child pornography victims’’. 
SEC. 3. MANDATORY RESTITUTION FOR VICTIMS OF COMMERCIAL 
SEXUAL EXPLOITATION. 
(a) AMENDMENT.—Chapter 117 of title 18, United States Code, 
is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘§ 2429. Mandatory restitution 
‘‘(a) Notwithstanding section 3663 or 3663A, and in addition 
to any other civil or criminal penalty authorized by law, the court 
shall order restitution for any offense under this chapter. 
‘‘(b)(1) The order of restitution under this section shall direct 
the defendant to pay the victim (through the appropriate court 
mechanism) the full amount of the victim’s losses, as determined 
by the court under paragraph (3), and shall additionally require 
the defendant to pay the greater of the gross income or value 
to the defendant of the victim’s services, if the services constitute 
commercial sex acts as defined under section 1591. 
‘‘(2) An order of restitution under this section shall be issued 
and enforced in accordance with section 3664 in the same manner 
as an order under section 3663A. 
‘‘(3) As used in this subsection, the term ‘full amount of the 
victim’s losses’ has the same meaning as provided in section 
2259(b)(3). 
‘‘(c) The forfeiture of property under this section shall be gov-
erned by the provisions of section 413 (other than subsection (d) 
of such section) of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 853). 
‘‘(d) As used in this section, the term ‘victim’ means the indi-
vidual harmed as a result of a crime under this chapter, including, 
in the case of a victim who is under 18 years of age, incompetent, 
incapacitated, or deceased, the legal guardian of the victim or 
a representative of the victim’s estate, or another family member, 
or any other person appointed as suitable by the court, but in 
no event shall the defendant be named such representative or 
guardian.’’. 
(b) TABLE OF SECTIONS.—The table of sections for chapter 117 
of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after 
the item relating to section 2428 the following: 
‘‘2429. Mandatory restitution.’’. 
SEC. 4. VICTIM-WITNESS ASSISTANCE IN SEXUAL EXPLOITATION 
CASES. 
(a) AVAILABILITY OF DOJ APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 524(c)(1)(B) 
of title 28, United States Code, is amended by inserting ‘‘, chapter 
110 of title 18’’ after ‘‘chapter 77 of title 18’’. 
(b) AMENDMENT TO TITLE 31.—Section 9705(a)(2)(B)(v) of title 
31, United States Code, is amended by inserting ‘‘, chapter 109A 
of title 18 (relating to sexual abuse), chapter 110 of title 18 (relating 
to child sexual exploitation), or chapter 117 of title 18 (relating 
18 USC 
prec. 2421. 
Definition. 
Definition. 
Determination. 
Courts. 
18 USC 2429. 
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132 STAT. 5252 
PUBLIC LAW 115–392—DEC. 21, 2018 
to transportation for illegal sexual activity and related crimes)’’ 
after ‘‘(relating to human trafficking)’’. 
SEC. 5. VICTIM PROTECTION TRAINING FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF 
HOMELAND SECURITY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Title IX of the Justice for Victims of Traf-
ficking Act of 2015 (6 U.S.C. 641 et seq.) is amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 906. VICTIM PROTECTION TRAINING FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF 
HOMELAND SECURITY. 
‘‘(a) DIRECTIVE
TO DHS LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS
AND 
TASK FORCES.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall issue a directive 
to— 
‘‘(A) all Federal law enforcement officers and relevant 
personnel employed by the Department who may be 
involved in the investigation of human trafficking offenses; 
and 
‘‘(B) members of all task forces led by the Department 
that participate in the investigation of human trafficking 
offenses. 
‘‘(2) REQUIRED INSTRUCTIONS.—The directive required to 
be issued under paragraph (1) shall include instructions on— 
‘‘(A) the investigation of individuals who patronize or 
solicit human trafficking victims as being engaged in severe 
trafficking in persons and how such individuals should 
be investigated for their roles in severe trafficking in per-
sons; and 
‘‘(B) how victims of sex or labor trafficking often engage 
in criminal acts as a direct result of severe trafficking 
in persons and such individuals are victims of a crime 
and affirmative measures should be taken to avoid 
arresting, charging, or prosecuting such individuals for any 
offense that is the direct result of their victimization. 
‘‘(b) VICTIM SCREENING PROTOCOL.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall issue a 
screening protocol for use during all anti-trafficking law enforce-
ment operations in which the Department is involved. 
‘‘(2) REQUIREMENTS.—The protocol required to be issued 
under paragraph (1) shall— 
‘‘(A) require the individual screening of all adults and 
children who are suspected of engaging in commercial sex 
acts, child labor that is a violation of law, or work in 
violation of labor standards to determine whether each 
individual screened is a victim of human trafficking; 
‘‘(B) require affirmative measures to avoid arresting, 
charging, or prosecuting human trafficking victims for any 
offense that is the direct result of their victimization; 
‘‘(C) be developed in consultation with relevant inter-
agency partners and nongovernmental organizations that 
specialize in the prevention of human trafficking or in 
the identification and support of victims of human traf-
ficking and survivors of human trafficking; and 
‘‘(D) include— 
Consultation. 
Deadline. 
Deadline. 
6 USC 645. 
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PUBLIC LAW 115–392—DEC. 21, 2018 
‘‘(i) procedures and practices to ensure that the 
screening process minimizes trauma or revictimization 
of the person being screened; and 
‘‘(ii) guidelines on assisting victims of human traf-
ficking in identifying and receiving restorative services. 
‘‘(c) MANDATORY TRAINING.—The training described in sections 
902 and 904 shall include training necessary to implement— 
‘‘(1) the directive required under subsection (a); and 
‘‘(2) the protocol required under subsection (b).’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
in section 1(b) of the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 
2015 (Public Law 114–22; 129 Stat. 227) is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 905 the following: 
‘‘Sec. 906. Victim protection training for the Department of Homeland Security.’’. 
SEC. 6. DIRECT SERVICES FOR CHILD VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAF-
FICKING. 
Section 214(b) of the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990 (34 
U.S.C. 20304(b)) is amended— 
(1) in the heading by inserting ‘‘CHILD VICTIMS OF A SEVERE 
FORM OF TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS AND’’ before ‘‘VICTIMS OF 
CHILD PORNOGRAPHY’’; and 
(2) by inserting ‘‘victims of a severe form of trafficking 
(as defined in section 103 of the Trafficking Victims Protection 
Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7102(9)(A))) who were under the age 
of 18 at the time of the offense and’’ before ‘‘victims of child 
pornography’’. 
SEC. 7. HOLISTIC TRAINING FOR FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFI-
CERS AND PROSECUTORS. 
All training required under the Combat Human Trafficking 
Act of 2015 (34 U.S.C. 20709) and section 105(c)(4) of the Trafficking 
Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7105(c)(4)) shall— 
(1) emphasize that an individual who knowingly solicits 
or patronizes a commercial sex act from a person who was 
a minor (consistent with section 1591(c) of title 18, United 
States Code) or was subject to force, fraud, or coercion is 
guilty of an offense under chapter 77 of title 18, United States 
Code, and is a party to a human trafficking offense; 
(2) develop specific curriculum for— 
(A) under appropriate circumstances, arresting and 
prosecuting buyers of commercial sex, child labor that is 
a violation of law, or forced labor as a form of primary 
prevention; and 
(B) investigating and prosecuting individuals who 
knowingly benefit financially from participation in a ven-
ture that has engaged in any act of human trafficking; 
and 
(3) specify that any comprehensive approach to eliminating 
human trafficking shall include a demand reduction component. 
SEC. 8. BEST PRACTICES IN DELIVERING JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS OF 
TRAFFICKING. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the Attorney General shall issue guidance to all offices and 
components of the Department of Justice— 
Deadline. 
Guidance. 
37 USC 20701 
note. 
34 USC 20709a. 
Guidelines. 
Procedures. 
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PUBLIC LAW 115–392—DEC. 21, 2018 
(1) emphasizing that an individual who knowingly solicits 
or patronizes a commercial sex act from a person who was 
a minor (consistent with section 1591(c) of title 18, United 
States Code) or was subject to force, fraud, or coercion is 
guilty of an offense under chapter 77 of title 18, United States 
Code, and is a party to a severe form of trafficking in persons, 
as that term is defined in section 103(9) of the Trafficking 
Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7102(9)); 
(2) recommending and implementing best practices for the 
collection of special assessments under section 3014 of title 
18, United States Code, as added by section 101 of the Justice 
for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015 (Public Law 114–22; 
129 Stat. 228), including a directive that civil liens are an 
authorized collection method and remedy under section 3613 
of title 18, United States Code; and 
(3) clarifying that commercial sexual exploitation is a form 
of gender-based violence. 
SEC. 9. IMPROVING THE NATIONAL STRATEGY TO COMBAT HUMAN 
TRAFFICKING. 
Section 606(b) of the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act 
of 2015 (34 U.S.C. 20711(b)) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘(6) A national strategy to prevent human trafficking and 
reduce demand for human trafficking victims.’’. 
SEC. 10. SPECIALIZED HUMAN TRAFFICKING TRAINING AND TECH-
NICAL ASSISTANCE FOR SERVICE PROVIDERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 111 of the Violence Against Women 
and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005 (34 U.S.C. 
20708) is amended— 
(1) in the heading, by striking ‘‘LAW
ENFORCEMENT 
TRAINING
PROGRAMS’’ and inserting ‘‘SPECIALIZED
HUMAN 
TRAFFICKING
TRAINING
AND
TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE
FOR 
SERVICE PROVIDERS’’; 
(2) in subsection (a)(2), by striking ‘‘means a State or 
a local government.’’ and inserting the following: ‘‘means— 
‘‘(A) a State or unit of local government; 
‘‘(B) a federally recognized Indian tribal government, 
as determined by the Secretary of the Interior; 
‘‘(C) a victim service provider; 
‘‘(D) a nonprofit or for-profit organization (including 
a tribal nonprofit or for-profit organization); 
‘‘(E) a national organization; or 
‘‘(F) an institution of higher education (including tribal 
institutions of higher education).’’; 
(3) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(b) GRANTS AUTHORIZED.—The Attorney General may award 
grants to eligible entities to— 
‘‘(1) provide training to identify and protect victims of traf-
ficking; 
‘‘(2) improve the quality and quantity of services offered 
to trafficking survivors; and 
‘‘(3) improve victim service providers’ partnerships with 
Federal, State, tribal, and local law enforcement agencies and 
other relevant entities.’’; and 
(4) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end; 
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PUBLIC LAW 115–392—DEC. 21, 2018 
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the 
end and inserting a semicolon; and 
(C) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following: 
‘‘(4) provide technical assistance on the range of services 
available to victim service providers who serve trafficking vic-
tims; 
‘‘(5) develop and distribute materials, including materials 
identifying best practices in accordance with Federal law and 
policies, to support victim service providers working with 
human trafficking victims; 
‘‘(6) identify and disseminate other publicly available mate-
rials in accordance with Federal law to help build capacity 
of service providers; 
‘‘(7) provide training at relevant conferences, through 
webinars, or through other mechanisms in accordance with 
Federal law; or 
‘‘(8) assist service providers in developing additional 
resources such as partnerships with Federal, State, tribal, and 
local law enforcement agencies and other relevant entities in 
order to access a range of available services in accordance 
with Federal law.’’. 
(b) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of 
contents in section 2 of the Violence Against Women and Depart-
ment of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005 (Public Law 109– 
162; 119 Stat. 2960) is amended by striking the item relating 
to section 111 and inserting the following: 
‘‘Sec. 111. Grants for specialized human trafficking training and technical assist-
ance for service providers.’’. 
SEC. 11. ENHANCED PENALTIES FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING, CHILD 
EXPLOITATION, AND REPEAT OFFENDERS. 
Part I of title 18, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in chapter 77— 
(A) in section 1583(a), in the flush text following para-
graph (3), by striking ‘‘not more than 20 years’’ and 
inserting ‘‘not more than 30 years’’; 
(B) in section 1587, by striking ‘‘four years’’ and 
inserting ‘‘10 years’’; and 
(C) in section 1591(d), by striking ‘‘20 years’’ and 
inserting ‘‘25 years’’; and 
(2) in section 2426— 
(A) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘twice’’ and inserting 
‘‘3 times’’; and 
(B) in subsection (b)(1)(B) by striking ‘‘paragraph (1)’’ 
and inserting ‘‘subparagraph (A)’’. 
SEC. 12. TARGETING ORGANIZED HUMAN TRAFFICKING PERPETRA-
TORS. 
Section 521(c) of title 18, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(2) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4); 
(3) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following: 
‘‘(3) a Federal offense involving human trafficking, sexual 
abuse, sexual exploitation, or transportation for prostitution 
or any illegal sexual activity; and’’; and 
(4) in paragraph (4), as so redesignated, by striking ‘‘(1) 
or (2)’’ and inserting ‘‘(1), (2), or (3)’’. 
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PUBLIC LAW 115–392—DEC. 21, 2018 
SEC. 13. INVESTIGATING COMPLEX HUMAN TRAFFICKING NETWORKS. 
Section 2516 of title 18, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (1)(c)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘section 1582 (vessels for slave trade), 
section 1583 (enticement into slavery),’’ after ‘‘section 1581 
(peonage),’’; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘section 1585 (seizure, detention, 
transportation or sale of slaves), section 1586 (service on 
vessels in slave trade), section 1587 (possession of slaves 
aboard vessel), section 1588 (transportation of slaves from 
United States),’’ after ‘‘section 1584 (involuntary ser-
vitude),’’; and 
(2) in subsection (2)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘kidnapping human’’ and inserting ‘‘kid-
napping, human’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘production, ,’’ and inserting ‘‘produc-
tion, prostitution,’’. 
SEC. 14. COMBATING SEX TOURISM. 
Section 2423 of title 18, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘for the purpose’’ and 
inserting ‘‘with a motivating purpose’’; and 
(2) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘for the purpose of 
engaging’’ and inserting ‘‘with a motivating purpose of 
engaging’’. 
SEC. 15. HUMAN TRAFFICKING JUSTICE COORDINATORS. 
Section 606 of the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 
2015 (34 U.S.C. 20711) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)(1)— 
(A) by striking subparagraph (B); and 
(B) by redesignating subparagraphs (C) and (D) as 
subparagraphs (B) and (C), respectively; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(c) 
HUMAN
TRAFFICKING
JUSTICE
COORDINATORS.—The 
Attorney General shall designate in each Federal judicial district 
not less than 1 assistant United States attorney to serve as the 
Human Trafficking Coordinator for the district who, in addition 
to any other responsibilities, works with a human trafficking victim- 
witness specialist and shall be responsible for— 
‘‘(1) implementing the National Strategy with respect to 
all forms of human trafficking, including labor trafficking and 
sex trafficking; 
‘‘(2) prosecuting, or assisting in the prosecution of, human 
trafficking cases; 
‘‘(3) conducting public outreach and awareness activities 
relating to human trafficking; 
‘‘(4) ensuring the collection of data required to be collected 
under clause (viii) of section 105(d)(7)(Q) of the Trafficking 
Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7103(d)(7)(Q)), as 
added by section 17 of the Abolish Human Trafficking Act 
of 2017, is sought; 
‘‘(5) coordinating with other Federal agencies, State, tribal, 
and local law enforcement agencies, victim service providers, 
and other relevant non-governmental organizations to build 
partnerships on activities relating to human trafficking; and 
Designation. 
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PUBLIC LAW 115–392—DEC. 21, 2018 
‘‘(6) ensuring the collection of restitution for victims is 
sought as required to be ordered under section 1593 of title 
18, United States Code, and section 2429 of such title, as 
added by section 3 of the Abolish Human Trafficking Act of 
2017. 
‘‘(d) DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE COORDINATOR.—Not later than 
60 days after the date of enactment of the Abolish Human Traf-
ficking Act of 2017, the Attorney General shall designate an official 
who shall coordinate human trafficking efforts within the Depart-
ment of Justice who, in addition to any other responsibilities, shall 
be responsible for— 
‘‘(1) coordinating, promoting, and supporting the work of 
the Department of Justice relating to human trafficking, 
including investigation, prosecution, training, outreach, victim 
support, grant-making, and policy activities; 
‘‘(2) in consultation with survivors of human trafficking, 
or anti-human trafficking organizations, producing and dissemi-
nating, including making publicly available when appropriate, 
replication guides and training materials for law enforcement 
officers, prosecutors, judges, emergency responders, individuals 
working in victim services, adult and child protective services, 
social services, and public safety, medical personnel, mental 
health personnel, financial services personnel, and any other 
individuals whose work may bring them in contact with human 
trafficking regarding how to— 
‘‘(A) identify signs of human trafficking; 
‘‘(B) conduct investigations in human trafficking cases; 
‘‘(C) address evidentiary issues and other legal issues; 
and 
‘‘(D) appropriately assess, respond to, and interact with 
victims and witnesses in human trafficking cases, including 
in administrative, civil, and criminal judicial proceedings; 
and 
‘‘(3) carrying out such other duties as the Attorney General 
determines necessary in connection with enhancing the under-
standing, prevention, and detection of, and response to, human 
trafficking.’’. 
SEC. 16. INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE TO MONITOR AND COMBAT 
HUMAN TRAFFICKING. 
Section 105(d)(7)(Q) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act 
of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7103(d)(7)(Q)) is amended— 
(1) in clause (vi), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(viii) the number of convictions obtained under 
chapter 77 of title 18, United States Code, aggregated 
separately by the form of offense committed with 
respect to the victim, including recruiting, enticing, 
harboring, transporting, providing, obtaining, adver-
tising, maintaining, patronizing, or soliciting a human 
trafficking victim; and’’. 
SEC. 17. ADDITIONAL REPORTING ON CRIME. 
Section 237(b) of the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims 
Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 (28 U.S.C. 534 note) is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 
Consultation. 
Deadline. 
Designation. 
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PUBLIC LAW 115–392—DEC. 21, 2018 
(2) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end 
and inserting a semicolon; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) incidents of assisting or promoting prostitution, child 
labor that is a violation of law, or forced labor of an individual 
under the age of 18 as described in paragraph (1); and 
‘‘(5) incidents of purchasing or soliciting commercial sex 
acts, child labor that is a violation of law, or forced labor 
with an individual under the age of 18 as described in para-
graph (2).’’. 
SEC. 18. STRENGTHENING THE NATIONAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING HOT-
LINE. 
(a) REPORTING REQUIREMENT.—Section 105(d)(3) of the Victims 
of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 
7103(d)(3)) is amended— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘and providing an annual report on the 
case referrals received from the national human trafficking 
hotline by Federal departments and agencies’’ after ‘‘inter-
national trafficking’’; and 
(2) by inserting ‘‘and reporting requirements’’ after ‘‘Any 
data collection procedures’’. 
(b) HOTLINE INFORMATION.—Section 107(b)(1)(B)(ii) of such Act 
(22 U.S.C. 7105(b)(1)(B)(ii)) is amended by adding at the end the 
following: ‘‘The number of the national human trafficking hotline 
described in this clause shall be posted in a visible place in all 
Federal buildings.’’. 
SEC. 19. ENDING GOVERNMENT PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE COMMER-
CIAL SEX INDUSTRY. 
No Federal funds or resources may be used for the operation 
of, participation in, or partnership with any program that involves 
the provision of funding or resources to an organization that— 
(1) has the primary purpose of providing adult entertain-
ment; and 
(2) derives profits from the commercial sex trade. 
SEC. 20. UNDERSTANDING THE EFFECTS OF SEVERE FORMS OF TRAF-
FICKING IN PERSONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Title VI of the Justice for Victims of Traf-
ficking Act of 2015 (Public Law 114–22; 129 Stat. 258) is amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 607. UNDERSTANDING THE PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL 
EFFECTS OF SEVERE FORMS OF TRAFFICKING IN PER-
SONS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The National Institute of Justice and the 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shall jointly conduct 
a study on the short-term and long-term physical and psychological 
effects of serious harm (as that term is defined in section 1589(c)(2) 
and section 1591(e)(4) of title 18, United States Code, as amended 
by the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthor-
ization Act of 2008 (Public Law 110–457; 122 Stat. 5044)) in order 
to determine the most effective types of services for individuals 
who are identified as victims of these crimes, including victims 
in cases that were not investigated or prosecuted by any law enforce-
ment agency, and how new or current treatment and programming 
Study. 
34 USC 20701 
note. 
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132 STAT. 5259 
PUBLIC LAW 115–392—DEC. 21, 2018 
options should be tailored to address the unique needs and barriers 
associated with these victims. 
‘‘(b) REPORT.—Not later than 3 years after the date of enact-
ment of the Abolish Human Trafficking Act of 2017, the National 
Institute of Justice and the Centers for Disease Control and Preven-
tion shall make available to the public the results, including any 
associated recommendations, of the study conducted under sub-
section (a).’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
in section 1(b) of the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 
2015 (Public Law 114–22; 129 Stat. 227) is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 606 the following: 
‘‘Sec. 607. Understanding the physical and psychological effects of severe forms of 
trafficking in persons.’’. 
SEC. 21. COMBATING TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS. 
Section 113 of the Trafficking Victims Prevention Act of 2000 
(22 U.S.C. 7110) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ‘‘2014 through 2017’’ 
and inserting ‘‘2018 through 2021’’; and 
(2) in subsection (i), by striking ‘‘2014 through 2017’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2018 through 2021’’. 
SEC. 22. GRANT ACCOUNTABILITY. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section— 
(1) the term ‘‘covered agency’’ means an agency authorized 
to award grants under this Act; 
(2) the term ‘‘covered grant’’ means a grant authorized 
to be awarded under this Act; and 
(3) the term ‘‘covered official’’ means the head of a covered 
agency. 
(b) ACCOUNTABILITY.—All covered grants shall be subject to 
the following accountability provisions: 
(1) AUDIT REQUIREMENT.— 
(A) DEFINITION.—In this paragraph, the term ‘‘unre-
solved audit finding’’ means a finding in the final audit 
report of the Inspector General of a covered agency that 
the audited grantee has utilized funds under a covered 
grant for an unauthorized expenditure or otherwise 
unallowable cost that is not closed or resolved within 12 
months from the date when the final audit report is issued. 
(B) AUDITS.—Beginning in the first fiscal year begin-
ning after the date of enactment of this Act, and in each 
fiscal year thereafter, the Inspector General of a covered 
agency shall conduct audits of recipients of covered grants 
to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse of funds by grantees. 
The Inspector General shall determine the appropriate 
number of grantees to be audited each year. 
(C) MANDATORY
EXCLUSION.—A recipient of funds 
under a covered grant that is found to have an unresolved 
audit finding shall not be eligible to receive funds under 
a covered grant during the first 2 fiscal years beginning 
after the end of the 12-month period described in subpara-
graph (A). 
(D) PRIORITY.—In awarding covered grants, a covered 
official shall give priority to eligible applicants that did 
not have an unresolved audit finding during the 3 fiscal 
Determination. 
Effective date. 
Time periods. 
34 USC 20704 
note. 
Public 
information. 
Recommenda- 
tions. 
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132 STAT. 5260 
PUBLIC LAW 115–392—DEC. 21, 2018 
years before submitting an application for the covered 
grant. 
(E) REIMBURSEMENT.—If an entity is awarded funds 
under a covered grant during the 2-fiscal-year period during 
which the entity is barred from receiving covered grants 
under subparagraph (C), a covered official shall— 
(i) deposit an amount equal to the amount of the 
grant funds that were improperly awarded to the 
grantee into the General Fund of the Treasury; and 
(ii) seek to recoup the costs of the repayment to 
the fund from the recipient of the covered grant that 
was erroneously awarded grant funds. 
(2) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION REQUIREMENTS.— 
(A) DEFINITION.—For purposes of this paragraph and 
each covered grant program, the term ‘‘nonprofit organiza-
tion’’ means an organization that is described in section 
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and is 
exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of such Code. 
(B) PROHIBITION.—A covered grant may not be awarded 
to a nonprofit organization that holds money in offshore 
accounts for the purpose of avoiding paying the tax 
described in section 511(a) of the Internal Revenue Code 
of 1986. 
(C) DISCLOSURE.—Each nonprofit organization that is 
awarded a covered grant and uses the procedures pre-
scribed in regulations to create a rebuttable presumption 
of reasonableness for the compensation of its officers, direc-
tors, trustees, and key employees, shall disclose to the 
applicable covered official, in the application for the covered 
grant, the process for determining such compensation, 
including the independent persons involved in reviewing 
and approving such compensation, the comparability data 
used, and contemporaneous substantiation of the delibera-
tion and decision. Upon request, a covered official shall 
make the information disclosed under this subparagraph 
available for public inspection. 
(3) CONFERENCE EXPENDITURES.— 
(A) LIMITATION.—No amounts made available to a cov-
ered agency to carry out a covered grant program may 
be used by a covered official, or by any individual or entity 
awarded discretionary funds through a cooperative agree-
ment under a covered grant program, to host or support 
any expenditure for conferences that uses more than 
$20,000 in funds made available by the covered agency, 
unless the covered official provides prior written authoriza-
tion that the funds may be expended to host the conference. 
(B) WRITTEN
APPROVAL.—Written approval under 
subparagraph (A) shall include a written estimate of all 
costs associated with the conference, including the cost 
of all food, beverages, audio-visual equipment, honoraria 
for speakers, and entertainment. 
(C) REPORT.— 
(i) DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.—The Deputy Attorney 
General shall submit an annual report to the appro-
priate committees of Congress on all conference 
expenditures approved under this paragraph. 
Cost estimate. 
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132 STAT. 5261 
PUBLIC LAW 115–392—DEC. 21, 2018 
(ii) DEPARTMENT
OF
HEALTH
AND
HUMAN
SERV-
ICES.—The Deputy Secretary of Health and Human 
Services shall submit to the appropriate committees 
of Congress an annual report on all conference expendi-
tures approved under this paragraph. 
(iii) DEPARTMENT
OF
HOMELAND
SECURITY.—The 
Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit 
to the appropriate committees of Congress an annual 
report on all conference expenditures approved under 
this paragraph. 
(4) ANNUAL CERTIFICATION.—Beginning in the first fiscal 
year beginning after the date of enactment of this Act, each 
covered official shall submit to the appropriate committees 
of Congress an annual certification— 
(A) indicating whether— 
(i) all audits issued by the Office of the Inspector 
General of the applicable covered agency under para-
graph (1) have been completed and reviewed by the 
appropriate official; 
(ii) all mandatory exclusions required under para-
graph (1)(C) have been issued; and 
(iii) all reimbursements required under paragraph 
(1)(E) have been made; and 
(B) that includes a list of any recipients of a covered 
grant excluded under paragraph (1) from the previous year. 
(c) PREVENTING DUPLICATIVE GRANTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Before a covered official awards a covered 
grant, the covered official shall compare potential awards under 
the covered grant program with other covered grants awarded 
to determine if duplicate grant awards are awarded for the 
same purpose. 
(2) REPORT.—If a covered official awards duplicate covered 
grants to the same applicant for the same purpose the covered 
official shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress 
a report that includes— 
(A) a list of all duplicate covered grants awarded, 
including the total dollar amount of any duplicate covered 
grants awarded; and 
(B) the reason the covered official awarded the dupli-
cate covered grants. 
SEC. 23. HERO ACT IMPROVEMENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 890A of the Homeland Security Act 
of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 473) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘Homeland Security 
Investigations,’’ after ‘‘Customs Enforcement,’’; and 
(B) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(2) PURPOSE.—The Center shall provide investigative 
assistance, training, and equipment to support domestic and 
international investigations of cyber-related crimes by the 
Department.’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (2)(C), by inserting after ‘‘personnel’’ 
the following: ‘‘, which shall include participating in 
training for Homeland Security Investigations personnel 
List. 
Effective date. 
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132 STAT. 5262 
PUBLIC LAW 115–392—DEC. 21, 2018 
conducted by Internet Crimes Against Children Task 
Forces’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (3)— 
(i) in subparagraph (B)— 
(I) in the matter preceding clause (i), by 
inserting ‘‘in child exploitation investigations’’ after 
‘‘Enforcement’’; and 
(II) in clause (i), by inserting ‘‘child’’ before 
‘‘victims’’; 
(ii) in subparagraph (C), by inserting ‘‘child exploi-
tation’’ after ‘‘number of’’; and 
(iii) in subparagraph (D), by inserting ‘‘child exploi-
tation’’ after ‘‘number of’’; and 
(3) in subsection (c)(2)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A), in the matter preceding clause 
(i), by inserting ‘‘and administer the Digital Forensics and 
Document 
and 
Media 
Exploitation 
program’’ 
after 
‘‘forensics’’; 
(B) in subparagraph (C), by inserting ‘‘and emerging 
technologies’’ after ‘‘forensics’’; and 
(C) in subparagraph (D), by striking ‘‘and the National 
Association to Protect Children’’ and inserting ‘‘, the 
National Association to Protect Children, and other govern-
mental entities’’. 
(b) HERO CHILD-RESCUE CORPS.—Section 890A of the Home-
land Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 473) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (g); 
(2) by inserting after subsection (d) the following: 
‘‘(e) HERO CHILD-RESCUE CORPS.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—There is established within the 
Center a Human Exploitation Rescue Operation Child- 
Rescue Corps Program (referred to in this section as the 
‘HERO Child-Rescue Corps Program’), which shall be a 
Department-wide program, in collaboration with the 
Department of Defense and the National Association to 
Protect Children. 
‘‘(B) PRIVATE SECTOR COLLABORATION.—As part of the 
HERO Child-Rescue Corps Program, the National Associa-
tion to Protect Children shall provide logistical support 
for program participants. 
‘‘(2) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the HERO Child-Rescue 
Corps Program shall be to recruit, train, equip, and employ 
members of the Armed Forces on active duty and wounded, 
ill, and injured veterans to combat and prevent child exploi-
tation, including in investigative, intelligence, analyst, inspec-
tion, and forensic positions or any other positions determined 
appropriate by the employing agency. 
‘‘(3) FUNCTIONS.—The HERO Child-Rescue Program shall— 
‘‘(A) provide, recruit, train, and equip participants of 
the Program in the areas of digital forensics, investigation, 
analysis, intelligence, and victim identification, as deter-
mined by the Center and the needs of the Department; 
and 
‘‘(B) ensure that during the internship period, partici-
pants of the Program are assigned to investigate and ana-
lyze— 
Collaboration. 
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132 STAT. 5263 
PUBLIC LAW 115–392—DEC. 21, 2018 
‘‘(i) child exploitation; 
‘‘(ii) child pornography; 
‘‘(iii) unidentified child victims; 
‘‘(iv) human trafficking; 
‘‘(v) traveling child sex offenders; and 
‘‘(vi) forced child labor, including the sexual exploi-
tation of minors. 
‘‘(f) PAID INTERNSHIP AND HIRING PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish a paid 
internship and hiring program for the purpose of placing 
participants of the HERO Child-Rescue Corps Program (in this 
subsection referred to as ‘participants’) into paid internship 
positions, for the subsequent appointment of the participants 
to permanent positions, as described in the guidelines promul-
gated under paragraph (3). 
‘‘(2) INTERNSHIP POSITIONS.—Under the paid internship and 
hiring program required to be established under paragraph 
(1), the Secretary shall assign or detail participants to positions 
within United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement 
or any other Federal agency in accordance with the guidelines 
promulgated under paragraph (3). 
‘‘(3) PLACEMENT.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall promulgate 
guidelines for assigning or detailing participants to posi-
tions within United States Immigration and Customs 
Enforcement and other Federal agencies, which shall 
include requirements for internship duties and agreements 
regarding the subsequent appointment of the participants 
to permanent positions. 
‘‘(B) PREFERENCE.—The Secretary shall give a pref-
erence to Homeland Security Investigations in assignments 
or details under the guidelines promulgated under subpara-
graph (A). 
‘‘(4) TERM OF INTERNSHIP.—An appointment to an intern-
ship position under this subsection shall be for a term not 
to exceed 12 months. 
‘‘(5) RATE AND TERM OF PAY.—After completion of initial 
group training and upon beginning work at an assigned office, 
a participant appointed to an internship position under this 
subsection who is not receiving monthly basic pay as a member 
of the Armed Forces on active duty shall receive compensation 
at a rate that is— 
‘‘(A) not less than the minimum rate of basic pay 
payable for a position at level GS–5 of the General 
Schedule; and 
‘‘(B) not more than the maximum rate of basic pay 
payable for a position at level GS–7 of the General 
Schedule. 
‘‘(6) ELIGIBILITY.—In establishing the paid internship and 
hiring program required under paragraph (1), the Secretary 
shall ensure that the eligibility requirements for participation 
in the internship program are the same as the eligibility 
requirements for participation in the HERO Child-Rescue Corps 
Program. 
‘‘(7) HERO CORPS HIRING.—The Secretary shall establish 
within Homeland Security Investigations positions, which shall 
be in addition to any positions in existence on the date of 
Guidelines. 
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132 STAT. 5264 
PUBLIC LAW 115–392—DEC. 21, 2018 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 1311: 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: 
Vol. 163 (2017): Sept. 11, considered and passed Senate. 
Vol. 164 (2018): Sept. 28, considered and passed House, amended. 
Dec. 17, Senate concurred in House amendment. 
DAILY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS (2018): 
Dec. 21, Presidential statement. 
enactment of this subsection, for the hiring and permanent 
employment of graduates of the paid internship program 
required to be established under paragraph (1).’’; and 
(3) in subsection (g), as so redesignated— 
(A) by striking ‘‘There are authorized’’ and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) ALLOCATION.—Of the amount made available pursuant 
to paragraph (1) in each of fiscal years 2019 through 2022, 
not more than $10,000,000 shall be used to carry out subsection 
(e) and not less than $2,000,000 shall be used to carry out 
subsection (f).’’. 
(c) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 302 of 
the HERO Act of 2015 (Public Law 114–22; 129 Stat. 255) is 
amended— 
(1) by striking subsection (c); and 
(2) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (c). 
Approved December 21, 2018. 
6 USC 187. 
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