An Act To Provide for Victims of Trafficking
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 1296
Committee: Judiciary
Sponsors: MARRACHE, BOWLES, CANAVAN, CARR, CRAVEN, CUMMINGS, HUTTON, PERCY, WESTON

Legislative Document 
No. 1296 
H.P.893 
House of Representatives, March 15,2005 
An Act To Provide for Victims of Trafficking 
Reference to the Committee on Judiciary suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative MARRACHE of Waterville. 
1J1~/J1.~ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Cosponsored by Representatives: BOWLES of Sanford, CANAVAN of Waterville, CARR of 
Lincoln, CRAVEN of Lewiston, CUMMINGS of Portland, HUTTON of Bowdoinham, 
PERCY of Phippsburg, Senator: WESTON of Waldo. 
Printed on recycled paper 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
CONCEPT DRAFT 
SUMMARY 
This bill is a concept draft pursuant to Joint Rule 208. 
This 
bill 
proposes 
to 
enact 
types 
of 
legislative 
initiatives to combat the trafficking of human beings across 
borders and into the State for sexual and labor exploitation. 
1. 
This bill would amend the criminal laws to enact a 
comprehensive antitrafficking law that would: 
A. 
Make trafficking of women, 
men and children into the 
State from other countries a Class B crime; 
B. 
Enact protections from prosecution for the women, 
men 
and children who have been trafficked into our State; 
C. 
Prohibit 
a 
trafficker's 
assertion 
of 
the 
victim's 
alleged consent to be used as a defense; and 
D. 
Hold responsible a 
landowner or employer who 
knew or 
should have known that trafficking was occurring on premises 
over which the landowner or employer exerted control. 
2. 
This bill would establish a task force of experts to 
determine the nature and extent of trafficking in the State and 
make 
recommendations 
for 
legislative, 
policy and programmatic 
initiatives. 
The task force would be composed of Legislators appointed by the 
President 
of 
the 
Senate 
and 
the 
Speaker 
of 
the 
House 
of 
Representatives; the Attorney General; the Commissioner of Health 
and 
Human 
Services; 
the 
Commissioner 
of 
Public 
Safety; 
the 
Commissioner of Labor; local law enforcement officials; health 
care providers: social service agency representatives: advocates 
for refugee and immigrant women, men and children; and providers 
of services and support for survivors of domestic violence and 
sexual assault. 
Specifically, the task force would: 
A. 
Identify available federal, 
state and local programs 
that 
provide 
services 
to 
victims 
of 
trafficking 
that 
include, 
but 
are 
not 
limited 
to, 
health 
care, 
human 
services, 
housing, 
education assistance, 
job training or 
Page l-LR1218(1) 
preparation, 
interpreting services, 
English 
as 
a 
second 
language classes and immigration services; 
B. 
Collect research and information on trafficking victims 
and 
evaluate 
state 
and 
local 
government 
approaches 
to 
increasing public awareness of the trafficking in persons; 
C. 
Review 
antitrafficking 
enacted in other states 
such 
Texas, 
including legislation 
trafficking" and "international 
legislation 
considered 
and 
as 
Hawaii, 
Washington 
and 
designed to regulate "bride 
matchmaking organizations"; 
D. 
Work with prosecutors and law enforcement officials to 
develop methodologies for data collection and strategies to 
reduce barriers faced by victims of trafficking who might 
seek assistance; and 
E. 
Make recommendations on methods to provide a coordinated 
system of support to persons who are victims of trafficking.