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. In addition to its existing duties, the commission is now required to investigate how human traffickers exploit online gaming and social media platforms to locate and abuse children and other victims. The commission will develop solutions aimed at preventing human trafficking through these platforms and will make legislative recommendations to implement these solutions.

The bill also retains the commission's current responsibilities, which include evaluating existing human trafficking laws, reviewing victim assistance programs, and promoting a coordinated response to support victims. The commission is mandated to report annually to the Governor and the Legislature on its activities, findings, and any proposed changes to current laws regarding human trafficking. This legislative update is in response to recent investigations indicating that online gaming platforms are being used by traffickers to groom and exploit children.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 52:17B-237