Iowa Trafficking Legislative Update – Network Against Human Trafficking and Slavery

Iowa Anti-Human Trafficking Legislation Update

The NAHT Legislative Advocacy Committee lead by Maggie Tinsman and facilitated by Advocacy Strategies has been working hard to get the 2023 legislature to address priority anti-trafficking legislation.

Click here to see the 2023 legislative priorities.

Before the first funnel there were eight trafficking bills introduced by various legislators. In addition there was some discussion to amend the state constitution to eliminate involuntary servitude as a punishment for crime and also discussion about creating a specialty court for human trafficking.

As of the second funnel, March 31st, there are only three bills that remain up for discussion. The status of each bill and what you can do to help follows below:

Safe Harbor

The Iowa Network Against Human Trafficking secured bill drafting for a Youth Safe Harbor Human Trafficking Task Force, SF 545. This legislation provides for creating an interim, interdisciplinary group of state agencies tasked with identifying the infrastructure necessary for implementing a Safe Harbor law in Iowa. The Iowa Senate passed the bill unanimously in mid-March but unfortunately failed to be taken up by the House Judiciary Committee ahead of the 2^nd legislative funnel deadline on March 31^st. The Safe Harbor legislation is still alive since there is an Iowa Senator attempting to amend a bill headed to the Senate floor by adding SF 545.

Mandatory $150,000 Restitution

As we saw watching Pieper Lewis' sentencing unfold, current law states all criminal cases in which an offender is convicted of a felony and caused the death of another person, the court is required to order the offender to pay $150,000 in restitution to the victim's estate or their heirs. Two bills, SF 522 and HF 594, seek to remedy this. SF 522 offers discretion to the court making the sentence, allowing the judge to consider any criminal offenses committed by the victim against the offender. HF 594 states the restitution requirement should not apply to an offender whose offense was directly related to the offender being a victim of human trafficking. NAHT supports excepting survivors of trafficking and other victims of violence and assault from the $150k restitution law. Both bills are “funnel-proof” and are eligible for floor debate in both chambers.

Criminal Penalties for Human Trafficking

Tackling human trafficking from a different angle, HF 630 increases a number of criminal penalties relating to the facilitation of human trafficking. Current Iowa code states many of these crimes are class D felonies, HF 630 would increase them to class B felonies, or class A felonies for the trafficking of children. The bill also states a person sentenced to a human trafficking crime is ineligible for a deferred judgment or a suspended sentence This bill was passed unanimously by House members in early March and is now eligible for debate on the Senate floor.

Maggie Tinsman and the Legislative Advocacy Committee ask you to take action to support these bills, please contact your legislators and ask for their support. Identify your Iowa legislators by entering your address at https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislators/find and share why anti-human trafficking legislation is important to you.

Pieper Lewis' Attorneys Speak Out at Iowa State University Campus

City/County Proclamations Serve as a Springboard to Local Anti-Trafficking Activity

For the past several years, the NAHT has been encouraging regional coalitions and advocates to approach their city and county governments to sign proclamations designating January as Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. This last year, Iowa Rotary Clubs have also taken on this proclamation project in their local communities.

The Siouxland Coalition Against Human Trafficking reports some especially positive spinoffs from their January 2023 proclamation requests. This coalition secured proclamations from the following cities/counties.

• Woodbury County, IA
• Dakota County, NE
• Sioux City, IA
• North Sioux City, SD
• South Sioux City, NE
• Paulina, IA
• Rock Valley, IA

Bernadette Rixner (pictured speaking) reports especially positive spinoffs from their meeting with the City Council of Le Mars, IA. The proclamation signing resulted in real interest and concern. The Assistant Police Chief picked up the ball and ran with it.  To continue reading this article click here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/126-Inn0Hq-wDWM8LR669RVLieYRvT70g/view?usp=sharing

A coalition of ten Central Iowa Rotary Clubs called CIVITAS is sponsoring a program on Tuesday, May 2nd entitled “Putting an End to Human Trafficking” in Des Moines. Here is a link to register and to learn about the panel presenters: Putting an End to Human Trafficking. The public is invited to attend. Money raised at this event will be utilized to support non-profit programs fighting human trafficking. The CIVITAS Rotary Clubs are part of a larger initiative within Rotary District 6000 in Iowa. A Rotary Prevent Human Trafficking Action Team is meeting monthly and plans to launch awareness and prevention programs within 20 communities in Iowa. The NAHT is partnering with the Rotary Action Team to carry out these prevention education projects.

IBAT Named as Finalist for a National Award

The NAHT is excited to share the Iowa Secretary of State (SOS), Paul Pate, has announced that the Iowa Businesses Against Trafficking (IBAT) initiative is a finalist for the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) IDEAS Award. Each year, NASS recognizes remarkable contributions that a state makes and recognizes the outstanding programs and achievements of member offices. You can read more about IBAT and the other finalists by visiting www.nass.org/about-nass/awards. The photo below was taken in the SOS Office at the State Capitol Building during an event in which George Belitsos thanked the SOS for his leadership in the fight against human trafficking and for launching IBAT in Iowa.

Now that spring has arrived in Iowa, SOS Pate plans to increase his presence around the state to meet with Iowans about IBAT.

This year IBAT has a goal of reaching 1,000 members. Currently, membership is roughly 630 business across the state, and you can help IBAT grow and raise awareness on human trafficking in your community by asking businesses to visit https://IBAT.iowa.gov to learn more about this program and to apply. Also, if you are affiliated with a non-profit organization, don't forget that you too can become an IBAT organization.

April is Sexual Assualt Awareness Month and National Crime Victims Rights Week is April 23-39

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. This month is dedicated to spreading awareness on how widespread sexual violence is, show support to victims, sex trafficking survivors, and advocates, and above all, bring communities together to raise awareness and help prevent these crimes.

Although the NAHT are primarily focused on ending trafficking, this month is also very important. Did you know, every 68 seconds someone in the United States is sexually assaulted? We ask you to take time this month and learn more about how you can support survivors of all forms of sexual assault and raise awareness in your community. A great resource to start with is IowaCASA.org, a statewide organization in Iowa focused on ending sexual violence and improving resources across the state.

April 23-29 is also National Crime Victim's Rights week and for information and resources on the national commemoration plans, go to the Office for Victims of Crime. To get access to themed artwork and global proclamations go to this link: https://ovc.ojp.gov/news/featured-resources/march-2023-featured-resources

A World in Crisis: Global Humanitarian Crises and Conflicts Increase Human Trafficking Concerns – Call to Action By the UN

Recent and ongoing humanitarian crises and conflicts, resulting from war, terrorism, climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as increased economic and food insecurity, are exacerbating existing vulnerabilities to and creating new risks of trafficking in persons. A UN report came out in December and you can get all the details by clicking here: https://icat.un.org/sites/g/files/tmzbdl461/files/publications/icat_call_to_action.pdf

Globally, tens of millions of people have been forced to flee their homes, making them an easy target for human traffickers who take advantage of crises to exploit men, women and children.

To continue reading this article click here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1J8HFzK2hGfuVuOtGKYcI7-vdDGxSBAp5/view?usp=sharing

Ashton Kutcher Joins European Union to Tackle Child Sex Abuse

The European Commission recently released proposed legislation aimed at preventing child sexual abuse. The proposed policy has the potential to make a significant difference in children's safety, both online and offline – and in the fight to build a world where every child can be safe, curious, and happy.

On March 20, Iowa native and Thorn Co-Founder, Ashton Kutcher, joined two members of the European Parliament and a survivor of child sexual abuse on a special live-streamed panel to discuss the proposed legislation – and why it matters to the fight to defend children from sexual abuse.

You can watch Ashton and the panel using this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aydwlbTh3NE

By Dr. George Belitsos on April 5, 2023   /   News