Banks' urgent bill on human trafficking passes out of committee today
By Krystal Shull
Legislation that would toughen Indiana’s human trafficking laws, passed out of the Senate Committee on Corrections, Criminal, and Civil Matters by a vote of 9-0 today.
Senate Bill 4, co-authored by Senator Jim Banks of Columbia City, makes it unlawful to arrange for a person to participate in any forced sexual act. Currently, Indiana law only prohibits forced marriage and prostitution.
“This is a serious worldwide problem epidemic and it’s growing,” Banks said. According to the U.S. State Department’s 2010 Trafficking in Persons Report, around 12.3 million adults and children are trafficked across international borders into forced labor and sexual exploitation worldwide.
Due to events surrounding the upcoming Super Bowl in February, it was essential for the bill to begin the legislative process immediately. Organized criminals who exploit young women and children through human trafficking gravitate to such gatherings, according to Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller. Currently, legal loopholes within Indiana laws could allow some forms of the human trafficking activity to go unprosecuted.
“This law would close those loopholes,” Banks explained. “With the Super Bowl coming to our state, we must give our law enforcement the tools to effectively prosecute traffickers.”
Recently, Indiana earned a D grade from Shared Hope International -- a leading sexual-trafficking awareness group -- on the effectiveness of human trafficking laws within the Hoosier state.
Governor Mitch Daniels, Attorney General Greg Zoeller, Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry and Sgt. Jon Daggy with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department have all announced their support of the bill.