The legislation includes Klobuchar’s provision modeled after Minnesota’s “Safe Harbor” law that helps make sure minors sold for sex aren’t prosecuted as defendants, but are instead treated as victims 

The broader anti-sex trafficking package was based on the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act – introduced by Cornyn and cosponsored by Klobuchar – which would help law enforcement to further crack down on human traffickers, while bringing about greater restitution and justice for victims  

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) announced today that bipartisan legislation to crack down on sex trafficking and support victims has passed the Senate and heads to final passage in the House. The legislation includes Klobuchar’s provision modeled after Minnesota’s “Safe Harbor” law that helps make sure minors sold for sex aren’t prosecuted as defendants, but are instead treated as victims. The broader anti-sex trafficking package was based on the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act – introduced by Cornyn and cosponsored by Klobuchar – which would help law enforcement to further crack down on human traffickers, while bringing about greater restitution and justice for victims.

“This bipartisan package represents a major milestone in our fight to crack down on sex trafficking,” Klobuchar said. “The compromise agreement we reached was weeks in the making and reflects a bipartisan commitment to standing up for victims of trafficking. I’m pleased that the final bill includes language modeled after Minnesota’s Safe Harbor provision to help ensure that minors who are sold for sex are treated as victims, not prosecuted as criminals, and I will keep pushing until we get this package across the finish line and signed into law.”

 

Klobuchar is a national leader in the fight to combat sex trafficking. Her bipartisan legislation modeled after Minnesota’s “Safe Harbor” law, which she introduced with Cornyn and Senators Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) and Mark Kirk (R-IL), would give incentives for all states to have a safe harbor provision to help ensure minors who are sold for sex aren’t prosecuted as defendants, but are instead treated as victims. When a state passes a safe harbor law, it means that kids sold for sex should be steered towards child protection services, rather than being arrested, charged, or convicted under a state’s criminal laws. The legislation is supported by the National Conference of State Legislatures, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Fraternal Order of Police, Shared Hope International, National Alliance to End Sexual Violence, United Methodist Women.

The Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, which served as the basis for the sex trafficking agreement, would help law enforcement to further crack down on human traffickers in communities across the country while bringing about greater restitution and justice for victims. In addition to law enforcement provisions, the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act helps victims rebuild their lives by using fines and penalties against perpetrators to improve the availability of victim services. The final version that passed the Senate replaces the originally proposed single source of money in the victims’ fund with two funding streams. The first flows from fines collected on sex traffickers, and would be used for survivor services including things like shelter, enforcement and other broad services, excluding health care. The second would come from existing federal funds allocated for health care.

Below is a summary of Senator Klobuchar’s “Safe Harbor” legislation:

The Stop Exploitation Through Trafficking Act (SETT):

  • Includes a provision modeled after Minnesota’s “safe harbor” laws. The provision encourages all states to have a safe harbor provision to help ensure minors who are sold for sex aren’t prosecuted as defendants, but are instead treated as victims. When a state passes a safe harbor law, it means that kids sold for sex should be steered towards child protection services, rather than being arrested, charged, or convicted under a state’s criminal laws. This bill will give states incentives through existing federal grant programs to pass safe harbor laws.
  • Creates a National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking. The National Strategy will help coordinate efforts to investigate and prevent human trafficking between federal, state, local, and tribal agencies. This will help set clear goals and focus resources to help combat human trafficking. The bill will also encourage better data sharing between different law enforcement agencies.
  • Allows victims of sex trafficking to participate in the Job Corps program to help them get back on their feet. This bill makes clear that victims of sex trafficking should be eligible for current job training and skills building programs to help empower sex trafficking victims so that they have the tools they need to find a way out of the cycle.
  • Helps victims pursue financial restitution. The bill will encourage better tracking of financial restitution orders so that victims can actually collect on the restitution they are due.
  • Strengthens the National Human Trafficking Hotline. Right now, the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline helps connect victims with services they need and passes on crime tips to law enforcement. This bill would make sure that the hotline is backed by the force of law. Although the Hotline operates with some federal authorization, this bill puts the National Human Trafficking Hotline on par with other national hotlines designed to serve victims.

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