This bill amends the responsibilities of the Commission on Human Trafficking, which operates within the Division of Criminal Justice in the Department of Law and Public Safety. The commission, composed of 15 members including various state officials and public members with expertise in human trafficking, is tasked with evaluating existing laws and victim assistance programs, promoting coordinated responses for victims, and reporting annually to the Governor and Legislature. The bill introduces new duties for the commission, specifically requiring it to investigate how human traffickers exploit online gaming and social media platforms to target children and other victims.

In addition to its existing responsibilities, the commission is mandated to develop solutions to prevent human trafficking through these digital platforms and to make legislative recommendations based on its findings. This expansion of duties is in response to recent investigations indicating that online gaming platforms can be used by traffickers to groom and exploit children, highlighting the need for targeted prevention strategies in the digital space.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 52:17B-237