State lawmakers and human rights advocates rallied Tuesday at the state capitol in support of legislation aimed at putting an end to modern-day slavery.
Human trafficking is the second most pervasive crime in the world, behind drug trafficking.
Under Senate Bill 388 and its companion, House Bill 235, the Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline number must be placed prominently in certain establishments and locations.
Senator Daylin Leach (D-Montgomery) is the sponsor of SB 338. He said he has tried to get this measure approved for the past three years, but some businesses believe it will lower their revenue.
“When we see the back of a milk carton, and we see a missing child on the back of a milk carton, we don’t think the dairy company kidnapped that child,” Leach said.
Senator Judy Schwank (D-Berks) believes a toll free hotline number would help a lot of people.
“Just the opportunity for people to see that, and understand there’s a hotline, there’s a number, there’s a website that you could get somehow with your cellphone, [to] find help,” said Schwank. “So that we could assist young children, women, any victim, so that they could get the information they need so that we could help them.”
A related measure, Senate Bill 1587, would more clearly define human trafficking and increase fines and penalties for convicted perpetrators. It would also implement participation in the national human trafficking hotline, create the PA Council for the Prevention of Human Trafficking, increase training for first responders, and expand resources available to victim service providers.
SB 388 and HB 235 have both been approved by respective committees in the House and Senate and are waiting floor votes. SB 1587 is before the Senate Judiciary Committee for consideration.
