GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2009

S                                                                                                                                                     1

SENATE BILL 353

 

 

Short Title:        NC Human Trafficking Commission.

(Public)

Sponsors:

Senators Kinnaird;  Apodaca, Atwater, Berger of Franklin, Bingham, Davis, Dorsett, Foriest, Jones, McKissick, Rand, Stevens, Tillman, and Vaughan.

Referred to:

Rules and Operations of the Senate.

March 2, 2009

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT to create the north carolina human trafficking commission.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  Article 9 of Chapter 143B is amended by adding a new Part to read:

"Part 30. North Carolina Human Trafficking Commission.

"§ 143B-426.45.  North Carolina Human Trafficking Commission.

(a)        Creation and Powers. - There is created within the Department of Administration the North Carolina Human Trafficking Commission (hereinafter 'Commission'), which shall be administered by the Department of Administration and which shall have the following powers:

(1)        To commission, fund, and facilitate quantitative and qualitative research to explore the specific ways trafficking is occurring in North Carolina and the links to international and domestic trafficking, and to assist in creating measurement, assessment, and accountability mechanisms.

(2)        To contribute to efforts to inform and educate law enforcement personnel, social service providers, and the general public about trafficking so that traffickers can be prosecuted and victim-survivors can receive appropriate services.

(3)        To suggest new policies, procedures, or legislation to further the work of eradicating trafficking and to provide assistance and review with new policies, procedures, and legislation.

(4)        To assist in developing regional response teams or other coordinated efforts to counter trafficking at the level of law enforcement, legal services, social services, and nonprofits.

(5)        To identify gaps in law enforcement or service provision and recommend solutions to those gaps.

(b)        Membership. - The Commission shall consist of 18 members to be appointed in accordance with the following:

(1)        The Governor shall appoint one representative from each of the following:

a.         State Bureau of Investigation.

b.         State Highway Patrol.

c.         A county sheriff's department.

d.         A city or town police department.

e.         A district attorney.

f.          Attorney General's office.

(2)        The President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall appoint one representative from each of the following:

a.         Legal Aid of North Carolina, Inc.

b.         Department of Crime Control and Public Safety.

c.         Department of Labor.

d.         Department of Justice.

e.         Department of Health and Human Services.

f.          North Carolina Justice Center.

(3)        The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint one representative from each of the following:

a.         University of North Carolina Women's Center.

b.         Hospital/Health Care representative.

c.         North Carolina Coalition Against Sexual Assault.

d.         A trauma expert.

e.         One of the area sexual assault response teams.

f.          A faith-based shelter or benefits organization.

(c)        Vacancies. - Vacancies shall be filled by the appointing authority for the unexpired portion of the term in which they occur."

SECTION 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Administration the sum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) for the 2009-2010 fiscal year and the sum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) for the 2010-2011 fiscal year to support the North Carolina Human Trafficking Commission established in Section 1 of this act.

SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2009.