Sponsors: By Representatives Veloria, Roach, O'Brien, Bush, Lantz, Clements, Linville, Kenney, Boldt, Sullivan, Upthegrove, Chase, Darneille, Hudgins and Edwards.

Brief Summary of Engrossed Bill

• Extends the Washington State Task Force Against the Trafficking of Persons indefinitely.

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 4 members: Representatives O'Brien, Chair; Darneille, Vice Chair; Kagi and Lovick.

Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 3 members: Representatives Mielke, Ranking Minority Member; Ahern, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; and Pearson.

The 2002 Legislature established the Washington State Task Force Against the Trafficking of Persons. The Task Force consisted of the following persons (or their designees): the Director of the Office of Community Development; the Secretary of the Department of Health; the Secretary of the Department of Social and Health Services; the Director of the Department of Labor and Industries; and the Commissioner of the Employment Security Department. In addition, the Task Force included nine members, selected by the Director of the Office of Community Development, that represented the public and private sector organizations that provide assistance to persons who are victims of trafficking. With the exception of travel expenses, all members of the Task Force served without compensation. Administrative and clerical support to the Task Force was provided by the Office of Community Development.

• measuring and evaluating the progress of the state's trafficking prevention activities;

• identifying federal, state, and local programs that provide victims of trafficking with services such as health care, human services, housing, education, legal assistance, job training or preparation, interpreting services, English as a second language classes, and victim's compensation; and

• making recommendations on how to provide a coordinated system of support and assistance to victims of trafficking.

The expiration date for the Washington State Task Force Against the Trafficking of Persons is eliminated and as a result the Task Force is extended indefinitely. However, the bill is null and void if not funded in the budget.

• Limits the life of the Task Force Against Trafficking of Persons to June 30, 2004 (the bill as passed by the House extended the task force indefinitely);

• Requires the Task Force Against Trafficking of Persons to prepare a report and submit it supplemental findings and recommendations to the Governor and Legislator by June 30, 2004;

• Requires the Office of Community Development to provide administrative and clerical support to the task force, within available resources;

• Requires the members of the task force to serve without compensation but to be reimbursed for travel expenses, within available funds.

• Deletes the null and void clause that required the entire act to be funded in the budget.

Effective Date: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately. However, the bill is null and void if not funded in the budget.

Testimony For: Secretary of State Colin Powell has called human trafficking an appalling assault on the dignity of women, men, and children. He is the latest in a growing number of national leaders to condemn the practice of human trafficking on both the national and international level.

Human trafficking is the second largest form of trafficking in the United States (U.S.) This industry often involves spouses and fiances who are brought into the U.S. and are induced by force or fraud to be in relationships and later work in sex or labor industries. Many of these victims are brought into the U.S. often times to pay off a family debt.

The Task Force would like to continue the interagency cooperation that has developed within the Task Force to share and learn about the best practices that are out there in the field of trafficking and to continue the community interaction and awareness that has been established during the interim when the Task Force was meeting.

There are many programs around the state who have experience in locating trafficking victims and providing assistance to those victims. The Task Force would like to continue working with those groups. The Task Force would also like to continue studying the complex issue of trafficking and learn how to better cooperate with federal government officials to ensure that traffickers are actually prosecuted.

We need to continue the Task Force to better understand all types of trafficking and what we should be doing to reduce trafficking crimes.

Testified: Representative Veloria, prime sponsor; Grace Huang, Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence; Lonnie Johns-Brown, Washington Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs; Madolyn Nichols, University of Washington Womens Center; and Bev Emery, Office of Crime Victims Advocacy.