2012 -- S 2515

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LC00132

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2012

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A N A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES - HUMAN TRAFFICKING - REPORTING

     Introduced By: Senators Perry, Nesselbush, Sosnowski, Crowley, and Gallo

     Date Introduced: February 16, 2012

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 11-67-7 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-67 entitled "Trafficking

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of Persons and Involuntary Servitude" is hereby repealed.

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     11-67-7. Interagency task force on trafficking in persons created -- Composition --

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Duties and responsibilities. -- (a) There is hereby created an interagency human trafficking of

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persons task force which will examine and report upon the extent of the existence of human

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trafficking for commercial sexual activity within the State of Rhode Island. The task force shall

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consist of the attorney general or his or her designee; the superintendent of the Rhode Island State

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Police or his or her designee; the director of the Municipal Police Training Academy or his or her

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designee; the Chief of Police of the City of Providence or his or her designee; the President of the

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Rhode Island Police Chief's Association or his or designee; the public defender or his or her

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designee; and the director of the Rhode Island Commission on Women or his or her designee.

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      (b) Additionally, the governor, the president of the senate and the speaker of the house

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shall each appoint three (3) members of the public who have a special expertise dealing with

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victims of crimes; the behavioral needs of women and children; social welfare issues such as the

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financial, healthcare, housing and literacy needs of women, children and low-income individuals;

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social justice and human rights issues; issues facing immigrants and non-citizens, civil rights;

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and/or specialized training in human trafficking and the needs of victims of human trafficking.

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      (c) A quorum of the committee shall consist of at least eight (8) of its members. The task

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force shall elect a chairperson.

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      (d) On or before December 31, 2010, the task force shall submit to the Governor, the

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Attorney General, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate a

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report setting forth its findings as to the extent to which human trafficking for commercial sexual

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activity is occurring in this State and making such recommendations as it deems appropriate for

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legislative and executive action relating to the enforcement of this chapter and the provision of

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social services to victims of human trafficking

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     SECTION 2. Section 11-67-8 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-67 entitled "Trafficking

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of Persons and Involuntary Servitude" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     11-67-8. Reporting. – (a) On or before January 15, 2010, and semi-annually thereafter,

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each law enforcement agency in this state shall file with the Governor, the Attorney General, the

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Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate a report concerning the

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agency's enforcement of this chapter during the preceding six (6) month period. Each semi-annual

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report shall contain, but need not be limited to, the following information:

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      (1) The number of persons arrested pursuant to section 11-67-2, section 11-67-3,

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subsection 11-67-6(b), and subsection 11-67-6(d).;

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      (2) Of those arrested, the number of persons convicted, placed on probation, whose case

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is filed pursuant to section 12-10-12, whether those persons pled guilty or nolo contendere or

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were found guilty after trial by judge or jury;

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      (3) The fines and/or sentences of those persons identified pursuant to subdivision (2) of

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this section; and

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      (4) A summary of the amounts of fines levied and the lengths of sentences identified

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pursuant to subdivision (3) of this section.;

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     (5) The number of known adult victims and the number of known minor victims; and

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     (6) If the information is available, a summary of referral and access issues for health,

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social services and other support services to aid and support the victims.

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     (b) The attorney general shall, no later than thirty (30) days after the end of each

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reporting period described in subsection (a), submit a report to the governor, the speaker of the

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house and the senate president compiling the data contained in the reports of law enforcement

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agencies pursuant to subdivision (a). The report shall set forth findings as to the extent to which

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human trafficking for commercial sexual activity is occurring in this state and making

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recommendations for legislative and executive action relating to the enforcement of this chapter

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and the provision of health, social services and other support to victims of human trafficking.

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     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect on July 1, 2012.

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LC00132

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES - HUMAN TRAFFICKING - REPORTING

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     This act would change the reporting requirements of the human trafficking act.

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     This act would take effect on July 1, 2012.

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LC00132

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