http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/human-trafficking-s460.pngLegislation would include displaying a human trafficking resource center hotline poster, instruction in specialty, elementary and high schools to identify victims, and raising the statute of limitations for child trafficking victims to age 35.

MADISON, WI – After attending a press conference for the Assembly Speaker’s Task Force on Human Trafficking, where members of the Task Force brought forth policy recommendations to fight human trafficking in Wisconsin, Representative Shelia Stubbs (D-Madison) released the following statement:

“First, I would like to thank Chair Representative Jerry O’Connor and Vice Chair Representative Jodi Emerson for their leadership of the Assembly Speaker’s Task Force on Human Trafficking. Over the past several months, we as members of this Task Force have had our eyes opened to the rampant exploitation occurring in our own backyards. Through a number of informational hearings in key cities across the state, we have heard from community organizations and stakeholders who work closely with survivors of trafficking in order to formulate a multi-pronged legislative approach to addressing this timely issue.

As a result of our work, the Task Force is recommending 11 bill drafts, 8 of which are bipartisan. Of these, I authored 2 bills and co-authored 3 bills. Additionally, the Task Force’s Final Report recognizes 4 existing pieces of legislation relating to human trafficking for recommendation, one of which I authored and one of which I co-authored.

First, I authored LRB 5375/2—relating to: displaying a human trafficking resource center hotline poster. LRB 5375/2 would change the current Department of Justice recommendation for certain places to display a human trafficking hotline poster to a requirement. This bill would also expand the list of locations in which a human trafficking hotline poster must be displayed. This bill will not only increase awareness of potential trafficking situations in Wisconsin, but will also expand access to potentially lifesaving resources for those who experience or witness human trafficking.

Next, I authored LRB 3999/1—relating to: instruction on human trafficking in licensed schools of barbering, schools of cosmetology, and specialty schools. LRB 3999/1 would require the development of materials and instruction of students of barbering, cosmetology, and other specialty schools in identifying and reporting instances of human trafficking. This bill will increase these professionals’ ability to intervene in trafficking situations or self-advocate if they themselves are trafficking victims.

I also co-authored LRB 5251/P6—relating to: required human trafficking prevention instruction in the elementary and high school grades and teacher training related to identifying victims of child trafficking. LRB 5251/P6 seeks to educate our young people, who are one of the most at-risk demographics for trafficking victimization, by implementing mandatory human trafficking prevention curricula in Wisconsin public schools for grades 7-12. By ensuring our youth are properly educated on and aware of how trafficking works, we can prevent them from entering this vicious cycle of exploitation.

Additionally, I co-authored LRB 5359/P5—relating to: mandatory training regarding human trafficking for employees of community-based residential facilities and owners of certain entities and certain other employees and granting rule-making authority. LRB 5359/P5 would implement mandatory human trafficking awareness training for employees and owners of certain businesses and facilities where contact with trafficking situations is likely to occur. To extend the net of people equipped to recognize and intervene in trafficking scenarios, this bill would require employees of community-based residential facilities, private security officers, hotel and motel managers, public transit managers, and adult entertainment managers to receive training on the underlying causes and risk factors of human trafficking and commercial child exploitation, as well as guidance on how to report and respond to instances of trafficking.

For my final piece of legislation developed for the Task Force, I co-authored LRB 5315/1—relating to: civil causes of action for trafficking a child. LRB 5315/1 aims to raise the civil action-related statute of limitations for child trafficking victims to age 35 and allow child trafficking victims to pursue civil action regardless of whether someone has been criminally convicted in their case. Under current law, a victim of child trafficking may only pursue civil action if there has been a criminal prosecution or conviction. By making these changes to the currently law, LRB 5315/1 would increase access to civil recourses for people who were trafficked as children.

My standalone bill AB 615—relating to: creating a task force on missing and murdered African American women and girls, was also recognized by the Task Force. AB 615 would create a statewide Task Force on Missing and Murdered African American Women and Girls. Black women and girls in Wisconsin face disproportionately high rates of homicide and gender-based violence, which intersects heavily with the issue of human trafficking. By addressing these disparities and the structural issues that cause them, we can also address broader issues of gender-based violence and exploitation in our state.

I also co-authored another standalone bill recommended by the Task Force, AB 794—relating to: harboring or transporting a child runaway without the consent of the child's parent or guardian and providing a penalty.Finally, AB 794 would create a criminal penalty for a person who harbors or transports a runaway child without immediately contacting police or child welfare services. Passing this legislation will keep children in our communities safer by strengthening protections for vulnerable runaway youth, who are at an increased risk of exploitation and harm in our state.

We cannot continue to allow human trafficking to go unchecked in our communities. Across our state, children and adults alike are being exploited for labor and for commercial sex. We as legislators must be vigilant in our positions and bring forth bills that both prevent these heinous crimes and bring liberty and justice to survivors. I am confident that, with the introduction of these pieces of legislation, we have taken the first step toward a trafficking-free Wisconsin.”