§ 12-19-101 — State Task Force for the Prevention of Human Trafficking

(a) (1) The Attorney General may establish a State Task Force for the Prevention of Human Trafficking. (2) The task force shall address all aspects of human trafficking, including sex trafficking and labor trafficking of both United States citizens and foreign nationals. (b) If established, representatives on the task force shall be appointed by the Attorney General and may include representatives from: (1) The office of the Attorney General; (2) The office of the Governor; (3) The Department of Labor and Licensing; (4) The Department of Health; (5) The Department of Human Services; (6) The Arkansas Association of Chiefs of Police; (7) The Arkansas Sheriffs' Association; (8) The Division of Arkansas State Police; (9) The Arkansas Prosecuting Attorneys Association; (10) Local law enforcement; and (11) Nongovernmental organizations such as: (A) Those specializing in the problems of human trafficking; (B) Those representing diverse communities disproportionally affected by human trafficking; (C) Agencies devoted to child services and runaway services; and (D) Academic researchers dedicated to the subject of human trafficking. (c) If the task force is created by the Attorney General, he or she may invite federal agencies that operate in the state to be members of the task force, including without limitation: (1) The Federal Bureau of Investigation; (2) United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement; and (3) The United States Department of Labor. (d) If the task force is created by the Attorney General, the task force shall: (1) Develop a state plan; (2) Coordinate the implementation of the state plan; (3) Coordinate the collection and sharing of human trafficking data among government agencies in a manner that ensures that the privacy of victims of human trafficking is protected and that the data collection shall respect the privacy of victims of human trafficking; (4) Coordinate the sharing of information between agencies to detect individuals and groups engaged in human trafficking; (5) Explore the establishment of state policies for time limits for the issuance of law enforcement agency endorsements as described in 8 C.F.R. § 214.11(f)(1) , as it existed on January 1, 2013; (6) Establish policies to enable state government to work with nongovernmental organizations and other elements of the private sector to prevent human trafficking and provide assistance to victims of human trafficking who are United States citizens or foreign nationals; (7) Evaluate various approaches used by state and local governments to increase public awareness of human trafficking, including trafficking of United States citizens and foreign national victims; (8) Develop curriculum and train law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, public defenders, judges, and others involved in the criminal and juvenile justice systems on: (A) Offenses under the Human Trafficking Act of 2013, § 5-18-101 et seq.; (B) Methods used in identifying victims of human trafficking who are United States citizens or foreign nationals, including preliminary interview techniques and appropriate questioning methods; (C) Methods for prosecuting human traffickers; (D) Methods of increasing effective collaboration with nongovernmental organizations and other relevant social service organizations in the course of investigating and prosecuting a human trafficking case; (E) Methods for protecting the rights of victims of human trafficking, taking into account the need to consider human rights and special needs of women and minors; (F) The necessity of treating victims of human trafficking as crime victims rather than criminals; and (G) Methods for promoting the safety of victims of human trafficking; and (9) Submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.

Legislative History

Amended by Act 2019, No. 910,§ 5403, eff. 7/1/2019. Added by Act 2013, No. 133,§ 6, eff. 8/16/2013. Added by Act 2013, No. 132,§ 6, eff. 8/16/2013.