AK HB259

Establishes the Council on Human and Sex Trafficking within the Department of Public Safety to coordinate victim services, education, public awareness, data collection, and demand reduction efforts for human and sex trafficking.

Creates a 17-member council composed of seven governor-appointed members (including representatives from local government, victim advocacy, Alaska Native organizations, law enforcement, faith-based organizations, and homeless services), nine state commissioners or designees, and two nonvoting legislative members.

Requires the Council on Human and Sex Trafficking and Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault to jointly hire a single executive director through a shared hiring committee chaired by the Commissioner of Public Safety.

Grants the trafficking council authority to develop standardized data collection systems, receive and dispense state and federal funds, award grants to community entities, conduct public hearings, provide technical assistance, and submit annual reports to the governor.

Takes effect March 1, 2025, with a sunset review date of June 30, 2028; the current executive director of the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Council automatically serves as executive director of the new trafficking council until a vacancy occurs.