CS/HB 167 - Civil Cause of Action for Victims of Human Trafficking Act

• Creates a civil cause of action for human trafficking victims to sue traffickers or facilitators for compensatory damages, punitive damages, attorney fees, and costs, with the standard of proof being the greater weight of the evidence.

• Mandates courts to assess $50,000 civil penalties deposited into the Trust Fund for Victims of Human Trafficking and Prevention, plus an additional $50,000 penalty to law enforcement agencies that rescued the victim, with punitive damages split equally between the victim and the trust fund.

• Provides an affirmative defense for public food service and lodging establishment owners/operators against punitive damages if they prove employee training on human trafficking identification, protocols for reporting to law enforcement, and reasonable care/diligence in employee oversight.

• Requires the Division of Hotels and Restaurants to adopt educational programs training employees of food service and lodging establishments to identify and report suspected human trafficking, with establishments required to maintain training documentation.

• Extends statute of limitations for human trafficking civil actions to 7 years after majority or 4 years after victim leaves abuser's dependency, and allows unlimited time for actions involving victims under age 16; effective October 1, 2018.