NY Soc Serv L § 483-EE (2021)
2021 New York Laws SOS - Social Services Article 10-D - Services for Victims of Human Trafficking 483-EE - Establishment of Interagency Task Force on Human Trafficking.

* §   483-ee.   Establishment  of  interagency  task  force  on  human trafficking. (a) There is  established  an  interagency  task  force  on trafficking  in persons, which shall consist of the following members or their designees: (1)  the  commissioner  of  the  division  of  criminal justice  services;  (2)  the commissioner of the office of temporary and disability  assistance;  (3)  the  commissioner  of  health;   (4)   the commissioner  of  the  office  of mental health; (5) the commissioner of labor; (6) the  commissioner  of  the  office  of  children  and  family services; (7) the commissioner of the office of alcoholism and substance abuse  services;  (8) the director of the office of victim services; (9) the executive director of the office  for  the  prevention  of  domestic violence;  and  (10) the superintendent of the division of state police; and the following additional members, who shall be promptly appointed by the governor, each for a term of two years, provided that such  person's membership  shall continue after such two year term until a successor is appointed and provided, further, that a member  may  be  reappointed  if again  recommended in the manner specified in this subdivision: (11) two members, who shall be appointed on the recommendation of  the  temporary president of the senate; (12) two members, who shall be appointed on the recommendation  of  the  speaker  of the assembly; (13) two members, who shall  be  appointed  on  the  recommendation  of   the   not-for-profit organization in New York state that receives the largest share of funds, appropriated  by and through the state budget, for providing services to victims of human trafficking, as shall be identified annually in writing by the director of the  budget;  and  (14)  one  member,  who  shall  be appointed  on  the recommendation of the president of the New York state bar association; and others as may be necessary to carry out the  duties and  responsibilities  under  this  section.  The  task  force  will  be co-chaired by the commissioners of  the  division  of  criminal  justice services and the office of temporary and disability assistance, or their designees.  It  shall  meet  as  often as is necessary, but no less than three times per year, and under  circumstances  as  are  appropriate  to fulfilling  its duties under this section. All members shall be provided with written notice reasonably in advance of  each  meeting  with  date, time and location of such meeting.  (b)  The task force shall: (1) collect and organize data on the nature and extent  of  trafficking  in  persons  in  the  state;  (2)  identify available  federal,  state  and  local programs that provide services to victims of trafficking, including but not limited  to  case  management, housing, health care, mental health counseling, drug addiction screening and treatment, language interpretation and translation services, English language   instruction,   job   training   and   placement   assistance, post-employment services for job retention, and services to  assist  the individual and any of his or her family members to establish a permanent residence  in  New  York  state  or  the United States; (3) consult with governmental   and   non-governmental   organizations   in    developing recommendations  to  strengthen  state  and  local  efforts  to  prevent trafficking, protect and assist victims  of  trafficking  and  prosecute traffickers;  (4)  establish  interagency  protocols  and  collaboration between  federal,  state,  and  local   law   enforcement,   state   and governmental  agencies,  child  welfare  agencies,  and non-governmental organizations; (5) evaluate  approaches  to  increase  public  awareness about  trafficking  and  make  recommendations  on  such approaches; (6) evaluate the effectiveness of training  programs  on  human  trafficking that  have been designed for law enforcement personnel, criminal defense attorneys, social service providers and non-governmental  organizations, and  make recommendations for improving the quality and effectiveness of such programs; (7) measure and evaluate the progress  of  the  state  in  preventing  trafficking,  protecting and providing assistance to victims of trafficking, and prosecuting persons engaged in trafficking; and  (8) convene  any  subcommittee  necessary, provided such subcommittee has at least  one  of  the  members  appointed  by the speaker of the assembly, temporary president of the senate  or  governor,  to  consider  specific issues,  including,  but  not  limited  to:  federal, state and/or local cooperation; juveniles and human trafficking; the importance of training and who should receive such training; how data is compiled  and  shared; and services for and treatment of domestic versus foreign born victims.  (c)  The  task  force shall report to the governor, the speaker of the assembly, the minority leader of the assembly, the  temporary  president of  the  senate  and  the  minority  leader  of  the senate no less than annually,  and  it   shall   additionally   issue   such   reports   and recommendations  as  it  deems  necessary  to  carry  out its duties and responsibilities.   * NB Repealed September 1, 2023