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Legislation to Fight Human Trafficking Scores First Victory

17-Feb-2012
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The effort to combat human trafficking received a boost today with passage of a bill in the Tennessee House of Representatives. If the bill becomes law, victims of human trafficking offenses would have a civil right of action for actual damages, compensatory damages, punitive damages, injunctive relief, any combination of these, or any other appropriate relief.
 
Representative Julia Hurley (R—Lenoir City), a cosponsor of the measure, praised passage of House Bill 2489. The legislation passed with unanimous support.
 
“The statistics are alarming when it comes to human trafficking in Tennessee,” said Hurley. “In many ways, we are a crossroads for the activity. Far too many lives are impacted by this modern version of slavery and I am proud we are taking purposeful steps to end it here.”
 
Under the legislation, "Trafficked person" is defined as a victim of a human trafficking offense, which is the commission of any act that constitutes the criminal offense of:

(1) Involuntary labor servitude;
(2) Trafficking persons for forced labor or services;
(3) Trafficking a person for sexual servitude; or
(4) Promoting the prostitution of a minor.
 
The bill also extends to loved ones of the victim. A legal guardian, family member, representative of the trafficked person or court appointee may represent the trafficked person or the trafficked person's estate if deceased. If the trafficked person dies as a result of a human trafficking offense, a surviving spouse of the trafficked person is eligible for restitution.
 
The author of the bill, Representative Jim Coley (R—Bartlett), remarked, “Human trafficking is a scourge that affects all of Tennessee. We sit squarely in the middle of the United States and we are blessed to be a tourist destination because of our natural scenery and unique industries. But those attributes also attract some of the worst kinds of individuals who are essentially enslaving people for profit. That has to end. I believe, with this action today, we are on the road to doing just that.”
 
The legislation can be accessed by clicking here.
 
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