Bill Summary
The "Prevent Trafficking in Our Schools Act" is a bill that would require the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of Education to work together to combat human trafficking in schools. This would be done through a pilot program that provides annual training to Department of Education personnel, teachers, and school leaders on how to identify and respond to suspected cases of human trafficking. The training would be based on the "Blue Campaign" anti-human trafficking campaign and would include tailored instruction, information on trends and best practices for referring cases to the appropriate authorities. The training can be provided through in-class instruction or distance education. The bill also requires the Secretary of Education to develop a public awareness program to educate students, parents, and the community about the threat of human trafficking in the education system and provide information to victims about rehabilitative services. The bill includes definitions for terms used and a report on the effectiveness of the program must be submitted to Congress after three years.
Possible Impacts
1. The Prevent Trafficking in Our Schools Act would mandate that the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of Education jointly carry out a pilot program to provide annual human trafficking awareness training to personnel in the Department of Education and elementary and secondary school staff. This could affect people by increasing their knowledge and ability to identify and respond to suspected human trafficking cases, potentially helping to prevent and combat this serious issue.
2. The Act would also require the Secretary of Education to develop and implement a public awareness program to educate students, parents, and the larger community on the threat of human trafficking in the education system. This could affect people by raising awareness and educating them on how to recognize and report potential cases of human trafficking.
3. The Act would also require the Secretary of Education to submit a report to Congress assessing the effectiveness of the training program and making recommendations for its future. This could affect people by potentially leading to the permanent authorization of the training program, ensuring that educators and school staff continue to receive training on how to combat human trafficking in schools.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4580 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4580
To direct the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of
Education to carry out programs to combat human trafficking in schools.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 27, 2019
Mr. Yoho (for himself, Mr. Van Drew, Mr. Cuellar, and Mr. Mooney of
West Virginia) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Education and Labor
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of
Education to carry out programs to combat human trafficking in schools.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Prevent Trafficking in Our Schools
Act''.
SEC. 2. PILOT PROGRAM FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS TRAINING.
(a) In General.--Beginning not later than 150 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretaries concerned shall jointly
carry out a pilot program under which qualified personnel of the
Department of Homeland Security provide annual human trafficking
awareness training--
(1) to personnel of the Department of Education; and
(2) to teachers, school leaders, and other personnel of
elementary schools and secondary schools.
(b) Training.--The annual training provided under subsection (a)
shall consist of training consistent with the anti-human trafficking
campaign of the Department of Homeland Security commonly known as the
``Blue Campaign'', including the following:
(1) Instruction in methods that the personnel described in
subsection (a) can use to identify and respond to suspected
victims and perpetrators of human trafficking.
(2) Training tailored to the specific location or
environment in which the personnel receiving the training
perform official duties.
(3) An explanation of trends and topics determined by the
Secretaries concerned to increase the likelihood that human
trafficking will be detected and investigated in classrooms and
the environment in the school system.
(4) Best practices for referring human trafficking cases to
the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice,
and State and local law enforcement agencies.
(c) Mode of Training.--The training under subsection (a) may be
provided through--
(1) in-class instruction, which may include instruction at
the facilities of local law enforcement agencies; or
(2) distance education (as that term is defined in section
103(7) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1003(7))).
(d) Termination.--The authority to carry out the training program
under this section shall terminate on the date that is four years after
the date of the enactment of this Act.
(e) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than three years after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Education shall
submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on
the training program carried out under this section.
(2) Elements.--The report under paragraph (1) shall include
the following:
(A) An assessment of the effectiveness of the
training program at the Federal, State, and local
levels.
(B) The number of educators and administrative
personnel who received training under the program.
(C) The number of human trafficking cases
identified and referred to Federal, State, and local
authorities as a result of the training program.
(D) A description of the data metrics used to
track--
(i) local, State, and Federal cases
referred to social or victims service agencies
or organizations; and
(ii) the outcomes of such referrals.
(E) A recommendation concerning whether the
training program should be permanently authorized.
SEC. 3. HUMAN TRAFFICKING PUBLIC AWARENESS PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Education shall develop and
implement a public awareness program to provide information to the
public on the threat of human trafficking in the education system.
(b) Elements.--In carrying out the program under subsection (a),
the Secretary shall--
(1) leverage partnerships to educate students, parents, and
the larger community on the threat of human trafficking in the
education system; and
(2) assist human trafficking victims in obtaining
rehabilitative services by providing such victims with
information on private, public, or nonprofit organizations that
offer such services.
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) ESEA terms.--The terms ``elementary school'', ``school
leader'', and ``secondary school'' have the meanings given the
terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
(2) Human trafficking.--The term ``human trafficking''
means an act or practice described in paragraph (9) or
paragraph (10) of section 103 of the Trafficking Victims
Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7102).
(3) Secretaries concerned.--The term ``Secretaries
concerned'' means the Secretary of Education and the Secretary
of Homeland Security.
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