Dear friends:

SB 5546, a bill to improve the human trafficking criminal code, was passed in the House yesterday (April 5^th).  Since the Senate passed this bill on March 4^th, the bill should be on its way to the Governor’s desk.  (See the Substitute House Bill Report Brief Summary below to learn the content of this bill.)

Next Step – Please say thank you to all the legislators and stakeholders’ support.  Now, your legislators need to hear from you to pass the One-Party Consent bills (HB 1874 and SB 5545) and urge them to only accept the version coming out of the Senate Human Services and Correction Committee.

·         Expands the definition of Trafficking in the second degree to include when a

person “transfers” or “receives” by any means, another person, knowing that

force, fraud, or coercion would be used to cause the victim to engage in

forced labor or involuntary servitude, or a “commercial sex act.”

·         Expands the definition of Trafficking in the first degree to include when a

person violates Trafficking in the second degree and his or her criminal act

involves the illegal harvesting or sale of human organs.

·         Defines “commercial sex act,” “forced labor,” “involuntary servitude,” and

“serious harm” for purposes of the Trafficking Act.

·         Adds the offenses of human Trafficking in the first and second degree and

Promoting Commercial Sexual Abuse of a Minor to the list of crimes for

which a defendant is required to be automatically remanded into custody upon

conviction pending sentencing.

Rose

Rose Gundersen, E.J.D.

Washington Anti-Trafficking Engagement | Co-Founder & Legislative Director

RGundersen@waengage.com| 360.561.7616 | http://www.WAEngage.com