Senate Bill No. 83, introduced by Senator Edmonds, mandates that starting in the 2026-2027 school year, all public school boards, including charter schools, must implement policies to prevent human trafficking. This includes training for school staff to identify and assist victims, with each school required to designate at least one employee to undergo advanced annual training. The Louisiana Department of Education, in collaboration with the governor's office of human trafficking, will provide training resources, and schools must maintain records of designated employees and their training completion to ensure compliance.

The bill also amends existing laws by replacing the term "child sex trafficking" with "human trafficking" and outlines the responsibilities of state agencies in providing services to victims. It emphasizes care coordination and advocacy for child victims and establishes reporting requirements for law enforcement and service providers. Additionally, the responsibility for developing a comprehensive strategy to prevent human trafficking is transferred from the Department of Children and Family Services and the Louisiana Department of Health to the governor's office of human trafficking, which will oversee care coordination teams authorized to provide specialized services to victims while ensuring confidentiality.

Statutes affected:
SB83 Original: 46:51(16)
SB83 Engrossed: 46:51(16)
SB83 Reengrossed: 46:51(16)