CS/CS/CS/HB 1165 Summary

• Creates civil cause of action allowing human trafficking victims and the Attorney General to sue traffickers and facilitators for compensatory damages, punitive damages, attorney fees, and investigative costs.

• Establishes mandatory $100,000 civil penalty per defendant upon prevailing in civil action, plus additional $50,000 penalty to law enforcement agencies if they rescued the victim.

• Authorizes Attorney General to pursue civil forfeiture of real and personal property knowingly used in human trafficking, with forfeited property or sale proceeds transferred to victims or the Trust Fund for Victims of Human Trafficking and Prevention.

• Eliminates statute of limitations for civil actions brought under this section and requires the Statewide Council on Human Trafficking to issue annual reports detailing trust fund status, case outcomes, and compensation program information.

• Appropriates $153,000 in recurring funds and $29,000 in nonrecurring funds from the Crimes Compensation Trust Fund to the Department of Legal Affairs for implementation, effective July 1, 2017.