HB 946 Summary

• Establishes three new criminal offenses: human trafficking in the first degree (Class B felony, or Class A felony if victim is a minor), sexual human trafficking in the first degree (Class A felony), and sexual human trafficking in the second degree (Class B felony).

• Defines human trafficking as recruiting, harboring, transporting, providing or obtaining a person while depriving or violating their personal liberty with intent to obtain forced labor or services.

• Defines sexual human trafficking as the same conduct but for the purpose of commercial sex acts in violation of specified prostitution and sexual offense statutes.

• Creates civil cause of action allowing trafficking victims to sue for actual damages, compensatory damages, punitive damages, and up to three times actual damages or $10,000 (whichever is greater), with statute of limitations of 5 years from freedom or 8 years after reaching age 18 if victim was a minor.

• Amends witness protection statute to prioritize security funding for investigations involving sexual human trafficking alongside organized crime and racketeering activity.