Brief Description: Improving services to victims of human trafficking.

Sponsors: Senators Kohl-Welles, Benton, Hargrove, Roach, Prentice, Thibaudeau, Stevens, Fraser and Keiser.

Senate Committee on Human Services & Corrections
House Committee on Criminal Justice & Corrections

Background: The Washington State Task Force Against the Trafficking of Persons was created by the legislature in 2003. Chaired by the Director of the Office of Community Development (CTED), the task force included members from a variety of state agencies, and public and private sector organizations that provide assistance to persons who are victims of trafficking. The task force identified federal and state programs that provide services to victims of trafficking, made recommendations on methods to provide a coordinated system of support and assistance to victims of trafficking and issued a final report to the Governor and legislature in June, 2004, when the task force expired.

The crime of trafficking was created in Washington in 2003, in RCW 9A.40.100. Trafficking involves recruiting or transporting a person knowing that force, fraud, or coercion will be used to cause the person to engage in forced labor or involuntary servitude.

Summary: Victims of trafficking would be better served by a coordinated system of service delivery extending beyond government efforts. Government and community based efforts should be recognized.

The Director of CTED will, within existing resources, convene a work group to develop written protocols for service delivery to victims of trafficking. The work group will include other state agencies and will develop protocols for policies and procedures for interagency coordinated operations. A database must be established which is available to all affected agencies, listing services to victims of human trafficking. This workgroup will submit the final written protocols with a report to the legislature and the Governor by January 1, 2006.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate      49   0
House      95   0   (House amended)
Senate      38   0   (Senate concurred)

Effective: May 10, 2005