Bill > HB1043

This bill, known as the "Georgia Trauma Informed Child and Youth Trafficking Response Act," aims to establish a unified, trauma-informed statewide system to address child and youth trafficking by creating a dedicated state-wide care coordination office within the Department of Human Services. This office will operate a hotline and reporting portal, develop a trauma-informed care coordination system, assign regional navigators to coordinate multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) composed of various agencies like DFCS (Division of Family and Children Services), law enforcement, courts, hospitals, and schools, and maintain a statewide data system. The bill mandates training for professionals in hospitals, schools, DFCS, law enforcement, and local governments on trauma-informed approaches, which are practices designed to understand trauma and avoid re-traumatizing victims. It also requires designated healthcare facilities to adopt specific protocols, including private screenings and safety planning, and prohibits them from contacting law enforcement to arrest child victims. Furthermore, the bill addresses familial trafficking, defining it as trafficking committed by a family member or caregiver's partner, and mandates that DFCS consider it aggravated child abuse, with courts requiring clear evidence of safety before ordering reunification. Importantly, no child victim will be prosecuted for offenses resulting from their trafficking. Counties and municipalities will also be required to adopt aligned trafficking response protocols and designate local coordinators, while schools will implement model trafficking policies and training. The Department of Human Services will submit an annual report to state leadership detailing the system's activities and compliance.

Justice

https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72373