Resolve, Directing the Department of Health and Human Services To Conduct an Assessment of Human Trafficking in the State
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 1324
Committee: Judiciary
Sponsors: ROBERTS, ANDREWS, CLOUTIER, MEYER, RECKITT, STOVER, BREEN

Legislative Document
No. 1324
H.P. 976
House of Representatives, March 30, 2021
Resolve, Directing the Department of Health and Human Services 
To Conduct an Assessment of Human Trafficking in the State
Reference to the Committee on Judiciary suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative ROBERTS of South Berwick.
Cosponsored by Representatives: ANDREWS of Paris, CLOUTIER of Lewiston, MEYER of 
Eliot, RECKITT of South Portland, STOVER of Boothbay, Senator: BREEN of Cumberland.
Sec. 1.  Department of Health and Human Services to study information 
relating to human trafficking. Resolved:  That the Department of Health and Human 
Services shall research and study data regarding sex trafficking of minors and adults in the 
State and create a human trafficking needs assessment patterned on the human trafficking 
needs assessment produced in 2015 by Hornby Zeller Associates, Inc. for the Maine 
Coalition Against Sexual Assault. The department shall conduct the study and draft the 
assessment with the assistance of law enforcement agencies, judicial resources and 
nonprofit and other organizations with an interest in preventing sex trafficking.  The 
department may use its own funding or seek other funding to carry out the purposes of this 
resolve.
Sec. 2.  Information to be studied. Resolved:  That, in developing the assessment 
under section 1, the Department of Health and Human Services shall include the following 
information in its research and study:
1. A profile of victims of sex trafficking, including:
A.  Race;
B.  Gender;
C.  Age range;
D.  Rural or urban living situation;
E.  History of sexual abuse or domestic violence;
F.  Absence of a supportive caregiver; and
G.  Drug use;
2. Data on sex trafficking in the State, including:
A.  The prevalence of sex trafficking and number of cases annually;
B.  The prevalence of labor trafficking;
C.  The percentage of law enforcement officers who have been involved in a sex 
trafficking case in the previous year;
D.  The percentage of law enforcement officers who are not familiar with an 
organization in the State addressing human trafficking; and
E.  The percentage of law enforcement officers who believe that the officers’ respective 
departments are prepared to address sex trafficking cases involving minors;
3. Data on the reentry of victims and prevention of sex trafficking, including:
A.  The services that are being received and by whom;
B.  The percentage of victims and survivors receiving services;
C.  The prevalence of family reunification;
D.  The rate of homelessness;
E.   Access to health insurance and health care; and
F.  The rate of incarceration of traffickers and victims; and
4. Other benchmarks that the department determines necessary.
Sec. 3.  Report.  Resolved:  That, by December 7, 2022, the Department of Health 
and Human Services shall report its human trafficking needs assessment under section 1 
and recommendations to aid the State in combating human trafficking with regard to 
prevention and reentry, including suggested legislation, to the joint standing committee of 
the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters.  The joint 
standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services 
matters may report out legislation based upon the report to the First Regular Session of the 
131st Legislature.
SUMMARY
This resolve directs the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct an 
assessment of human trafficking in the State patterned on an assessment conducted in 2015 
and to provide the assessment and recommendations to the Legislature on how to combat 
human trafficking with regard to prevention and reentry.