Stuart-Backed Anti-Trafficking Bill Passes Out of Committee, Moves to the House Floor

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — State Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, has passed a bill through the House Judiciary – Criminal Committee that would empower survivors of human trafficking to prosecute their abusers no matter how much time has passed, if they were under the age of 18 at the time of the offense. The bill now moves to the floor for consideration by the full House of Representatives.

“What survivors of trafficking have endured is indescribable and they should not have to worry about a time limit which means they cannot get justice unless they pursue charges against their abuser within an arbitrary timeframe,” said Stuart. “This bill would empower survivors to pursue charges against their abuser, no matter their current age or how much time has passed since they were trafficked.”

Stuart’s House Bill 2602 would eliminate the statute of limitations currently in place for trafficking, involuntary servitude and involuntary sexual servitude of a minor, when the victim was under 18 years of age at the time of the offense. Currently, a survivor of trafficking must pursue charges against their abuser within 25 years of the survivor’s 18th birthday. This bill would eliminate the time frame in which a survivor has to pursue charges and empower survivors to pursue the prosecution of their abuser with no limit on how soon they must do so. The bill was drafted in concert with Shared Hope International, an anti-sex trafficking organization.

“The current statute of limitations not only limits how much time a survivor has to pursue charges, it also does not take into account the age at which the trafficking occurs, leaving some survivors with significantly less time to pursue charges and receive justice,” said Stuart. “Now that the bill has moved out of committee and to the House Floor, we are one step closer to unlocking access to justice for childhood survivors of human trafficking and sexual abuse.”