Lawmakers are working to toughen and close loopholes in Indiana's human trafficking law. SB 4 provides that recruiting, harboring, or transporting another person to participate in sexual conduct by force, threat of force, or fraud constitutes human trafficking. Among other provisions, the measure provides that a person who recruits, harbors, or transports a child less than 16 years of age with the intent of engaging the child in forced labor, involuntary servitude, prostitution, or sexual conduct commits promotion of human trafficking of a minor, a Class B felony punishable by six to 20 years in prison. The bill has already been approved by the Senate by a unanimous vote and speedy action is expected in the House to ensure passage before this year's Super Bowl in Indianapolis. According to committee testimony, human trafficking is estimated to be a $32 billion industry worldwide, affecting nearly 12.3 million adults and children, making it the second largest crime business in the world. Unfortunately, human traffickers are expected to be among the 100,000 people due to gather in Indianapolis for this year's Super Bowl as previous host cities have experienced a spike in this type of criminal activity in the days surrounding this event.
Unfortunately, the Indiana Congress is unable to pass this much needed bill because many of the law makers are purposefully not showing up to do their job because they don't like the potential results of the "Right To Work" bill that is currently up for vote in the Indiana Congress. They are purposefully not showing up at their jobs, the elected positions they were voted into so that there isn't enough members present to vote on the "Right To Work" bill. This means that no bills can get passed during this dereliction of duty. If they disagree with the "Right To Work" bill, fine, vote no, and get on to doing their jobs that we elected them to do and get SB 4 passed to help protect children, men and women from sex trafficking.
This makes me want to scream! I work with a group called Mission 21, we are and anti-trafficking org that does educational talks on human trafficking and we hope to be opening a safe house for children who are saved fromt eh sex trafficking industry. I hope it is ok, I am going to post these on my fb. Thank you for putting this up here Jamie!
ReplyDeleteIt is very okay for you to share this on your facebook or where ever you would like. I do want to let you know that the Indiana congress did vote on the "Right To Work" bill today and as a result over the next few days the SB 4 anti-trafficking bill will likely be passed. That's great news.
ReplyDeleteGreat news! And, really informative post. Thanks, Jaime! xxx
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