Senate Bill No. 83, introduced by Senator Edmonds, mandates that starting in the 2026-2027 school year, all city, parish, and local public school boards, as well as public charter schools, must adopt policies aimed at preventing human trafficking. This includes training for school employees to identify and assist victims of human trafficking. Each school is required to designate at least one employee, such as a school counselor or administrator, to receive annual advanced training on human trafficking, which can be conducted either in-person or online. The Louisiana Department of Education, in collaboration with the governor's office of human trafficking, will provide information on available training curriculums. Schools must maintain records of designated employees and their training completion, ensuring compliance with these new requirements.

Additionally, the bill expands the scope of services for victims of human trafficking to include young adults aged 18 to 21, transferring the responsibility for victim identification and coordination of benefits from the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and the Department of Health to the governor's office of human trafficking. The legislation also updates terminology, replacing "sex trafficking" with "human trafficking" and defining the latter to encompass various forms of trafficking, including those related to commercial sexual activity and labor trafficking. The bill aims to enhance the support and resources available to victims while ensuring that educational institutions play a proactive role in prevention and identification efforts.

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