Bill > HB42

This bill amends Delaware's laws to explicitly include human trafficking of children within existing child protection frameworks across multiple state codes. The bill expands definitions and reporting requirements to ensure that suspected child human trafficking cases are treated with the same level of urgency and comprehensive investigation as child abuse and neglect cases. Specifically, the legislation requires the Child Protection Accountability Commission to receive quarterly updates and annual reports on child human trafficking efforts, mandates that all state agencies (including law enforcement, child welfare services, and the Department of Justice) report and track suspected child human trafficking cases, and establishes a new section of law (§ 932A) that outlines a detailed process for investigating and reviewing suspected child trafficking cases. The bill broadens the scope of mandatory reporting to include human trafficking, ensures that such cases receive multidisciplinary investigation, and provides mechanisms for tracking and reviewing these cases while maintaining confidentiality protections. Key changes include requiring forensic interviews of suspected trafficking victims, mandating reporting to various state agencies, and allowing the Child Protection Accountability Commission to make system-wide recommendations based on their investigations, all with the overarching goal of protecting children from trafficking and providing comprehensive support for victims.

Budget and Finance, Justice

https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=141868