HUMAN TRAFFICKING HOTLINE AWARENESS S.B. 418:
SUMMARY OF INTRODUCED BILL
IN COMMITTEE
Senate Bill 418 (as introduced 5-31-17)
Sponsor: Senator Judy K. Emmons
Committee: Families, Seniors and Human Services
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Social Welfare Act to require Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to cooperate with the Michigan Department of Transportation to promote public awareness regarding the National Human Trafficking Hotline.
Specifically, the promotion of public awareness would include, but would not be limited to, displaying public awareness signs in high-risk areas, including at least all of the following:
-- Truck stops.
-- Bus stations.
-- Train stations.
-- Airports.
-- Rest stops.
-- Any premises with a liquor license.
-- Emergency rooms.
-- Urgent care centers.
-- Farm labor contractors.
-- Privately operated job recruitment centers.
-- Large-scale sporting events.
The bill would take effect 90 days after the date it was enacted.
BACKGROUND
The National Human Trafficking Hotline is a national anti-trafficking hotline serving victims and survivors of human trafficking and the anti-trafficking community in the United States. The hotline has been open since December 2007 and operated by Polaris, a nonprofit, nongovernmental organization that works to eliminate modern slavery and provide assistance to survivors of human trafficking. Funding for the hotline is provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and other private donors and supporters. The National Human Trafficking Hotline can be reached by email, by phone, and via the internet. It provides a program for receiving tips, and offering help related to human trafficking. The phone line is available to answer calls 24 hours a day, in more than 200 languages, and from anywhere in the country. The hotline also provides information, statistics, and resources on a range of topics related to human trafficking.
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have an indeterminate, but likely minimal, negative fiscal impact on the Department of Health and Human Services, and no fiscal impact on local units of government. Under the bill, the Department would face an indeterminate increase in costs resulting from the requirement that it promote public awareness of the national human trafficking hotline. The magnitude of the cost would depend upon the methods the Department chooses to promote public awareness, which are not explicitly defined in the bill.
Fiscal Analyst: Ellyn Ackerman
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.