DES PLAINES, Ill. – Continuing his efforts to combat human trafficking in the state of Illinois, state Rep. Marty Moylan, D-Des Plaines, sponsored a measure to require hotels and motels to train employees on human trafficking recognition and ways to alert authorities.

“We must do everything we can to protect survivors of human trafficking,” said Moylan. “We must continue to be proactive and come up with creative solutions that will help us track down offenders and protect the survivors.”

The Moylan-backed House Bill 3101 creates the Lodging Establishment Human Trafficking Recognition Training Act, which requires lodging establishments to provide employees human trafficking training every two years, including within the first six months after starting employment. This measure also directs the Department of Human Services to develop a human trafficking training recognition program, which shall be used by a lodging establishment that does not administer its own human trafficking recognition program. This legislation was signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker late last week.

“Human trafficking tragically destroys lives each and every day,” said Moylan. “This isn’t something that just happens in other countries or in movies, it happens here in our communities as well. We have to take every step possible to prevent it and deliver justice for survivors.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – In an ongoing effort to combat human trafficking, state Rep. Diane Pappas, D-Itasca, supported a new law to enforce tougher penalties on those benefiting from the practice and increasing education for hotel workers and law enforcement professionals to identify it.

“We have to end human trafficking,” Pappas said. “It is a terrible crime that forces people into years of servitude; trapped by threats of violence against them and their families. There are numerous criminals guilty of benefitting from the practice, not just those who directly keep people in captivity, but businesses who profit by turning a blind eye while human beings are trafficked on their property.”

Pappas helped pass Senate Bill 1890, which is now law. The law creates a training program for all law enforcement agencies in Illinois to ensure they are ready to recognize and fight the problem. It also extends the statute of limitations for adult human trafficking to 25 years, and establishes penalties of up to $100,000 for any businesses that benefit from human trafficking or other types of involuntary servitude.

Pappas’ measure also creates the Lodging Establishment Human Trafficking Recognition Training Act, which requires hotel owners hold regular trainings for employees to recognize signs of human trafficking.

Since 2007, 4,578 incidents of human trafficking have been reported in Illinois, with likely tens of thousands more occurrences that did not reach the authorities. The Jane Addams Center for Social Policy and Research compiled a comprehensive report on human trafficking across the country and concluded that the hospitality industry was one of the largest employers of victims of human trafficking. A 2018 Illinois government task force on the subject also identified education programs for law enforcement and hotel workers as critical steps in ending this problem.

“This new law will combat human trafficking not just by increasing punishments for the criminals involved, but by educating people in positions to prevent it from continuing,” Pappas said. “By giving law enforcement professionals the tools and training to pursue these criminals, people can be saved from being forced into modern day slavery.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Mike Halpin, D-Rock Island, is combatting human trafficking by passing stronger penalties for those benefiting from the practice and increasing training to help law enforcement professionals and hotel workers to identify it.

“Human trafficking is a horrible practice and we can’t allow it to go on in our communities,” Halpin said. “People trafficked in are captive for years of servitude to work off an impossible debt; often under threat of danger to them or their families. Far too many people and businesses are profiting from exploitation and that needs to come to an end.”

Halpin helped pass Senate Bill 1890, which is now law. The law creates a training program for all law enforcement agencies in Illinois to ensure they are ready to recognize and fight the problem. Next, it extends the statute of limitations for adult human trafficking to 25 years. Finally, it establishes penalties of up to $100,000 for any businesses that benefit from human trafficking or other types of involuntary servitude.

The bill also creates the Lodging Establishment Human Trafficking Recognition Training Act, which requires hotel owners hold regular trainings for employees to recognize signs of human trafficking.

Since 2007, 4,578 incidents of human trafficking have been reported in Illinois, with likely tens of thousands more occurrences that did not reach the authorities. The Jane Addams Center for Social Policy and Research compiled a comprehensive report on human trafficking across the county and concluded that the hospitality industry was one of the largest employers of victims of human trafficking. A 2018 Illinois government task force on the subject also identified education programs for law enforcement and hotel workers as critical steps in ending this problem.

“My goal is to build a stronger Illinois, and that can only happen if communities are safe for everyone,” Halpin said. “Law enforcement needs training to fight trafficking and people who might witness suspicious behavior need to know what to look for. We can only solve this problem if everyone involved is educated on how to do their part. This bill will help get rid of any shelter traffickers have and bring them to justice.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Legislation introduced by state Rep. Justin Slaughter, D-Chicago, to combat human trafficking in Illinois recently passed both the House and Senate with bipartisan support.

“Human trafficking and the exploitation of children are two of the most heinous crimes that a person can commit, and offenders should be punished under the full scope of the law,” said Slaughter. “For too long, many of our hotels and motels have turned a blind eye to the human trafficking that takes place within their walls. This legislation will help ensure that they, too, will be held responsible for the crimes that they enable and will help us crack down on abuse taking place in our state.”

Slaughter’s Senate Bill 1890 creates the Lodging Establishment Human Trafficking Recognition Training Act to oblige hotels and motels to train their employees on methods to prevent human trafficking. Under this legislation, employees will be required to learn how to recognize the signs of abuse and trafficking and how to properly alert authorities. In addition, law enforcement agencies across the state will be required to include courses on human trafficking as part of their training. The statutes of limitation for crimes related to human trafficking will also be increased to 25 years to ensure that victims are able to come forward and seek justice in their own time. In addition, the measure allows businesses that benefit from human trafficking to face fines of up to $100,000.

“As a father, combatting human trafficking and protecting vulnerable children are two extremely important issues for me,” said Slaughter. “In Springfield and at home, I will continue to advocate for the most vulnerable among us. I encourage Governor Pritzker to continue standing up for victims by signing this legislation into law.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, is cracking down on the spread of human trafficking by passing tougher punishments on businesses profiting off of the practice and funding training programs for police and hotel employees to identify and combat it.

“We have to banish human trafficking from Illinois,” Hernandez said. “People forced into years of servitude, held hostage by the threat of violence and worse; these are the terrible results of human trafficking. It’s not just the offenders committing these crimes, but other people and businesses who profit by allowing it to happen that deserve punishment.”

Hernandez helped pass Senate Bill 1890, an extensive bill which combats human trafficking on several fronts. First, it creates a training program for all law enforcement agencies in Illinois to ensure they are ready to recognize and fight the problem. Next, it extends the statute of limitations for adult human trafficking to 25 years. Finally, it establishes penalties of up to $100,000 for any businesses that benefit from human trafficking or other types of involuntary servitude.

The bill also creates the Lodging Establishment Human Trafficking Recognition Training Act, which requires hotel business owners to hold regular trainings for employees to recognize and report signs of human trafficking.

Since 2007, 4,578 incidents of human trafficking have been reported in Illinois, with likely tens of thousands more occurrences that did not reach the authorities. The Jane Addams Center for Social Policy and Research compiled a comprehensive report on human trafficking across the county and concluded that the hospitality industry was one of the largest employers of victims of human trafficking. A 2018 Illinois government task force on the subject also identified education programs for law enforcement and hotel workers as critical steps in ending this problem.

“These measures do not only punish those guilty of looking the other way, they help educate people who need to know what to look for,” Hernandez said. “While law enforcement has to have greater training here, hotel workers are another group that have to be educated. We cannot allow the perpetrators of human trafficking any shelter to commit their terrible crimes.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Human traffickers and those who benefit from exploitation will now face harsher penalties under legislation recently passed by state Rep. Michelle Mussman, D-Schaumburg.

“This legislation will ensure that survivors of human trafficking and involuntary servitude have a voice by extending the statute of limitations so that perpetrators can be prosecuted,” said Mussman. “Additionally, this measure will provide law enforcement with further training to identify and investigate human trafficking rings and will punish businesses that benefit from these heinous crimes with harsh financial penalties.”

The Mussman-backed Senate Bill 1890, which makes extensive changes to current law to crack down on human trafficking, passed both the Illinois House and Senate with sweeping bipartisan support. The legislation extends the statute of limitations on both criminal and civil cases up to 25 years, provides further training for all law enforcement officers on identifying and investigating suspected human trafficking situations, and subjects businesses that benefit from human trafficking and similar crimes to new fines of up to $100,000.

“I am proud to be a part of the widely bipartisan coalition of legislators that came together to pass this measure to combat human trafficking in Illinois,” continued Mussman. “I encourage the governor to sign this bill when it reaches his desk to ensure that abusers who prey upon vulnerable women and children are held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”

For more information, please contact Mussman’s constituent service office at 847-923-9104 or StateRepMussman@gmail.com.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – To hold businesses that prosper from human trafficking accountable to the fullest extent of the law, state Rep. Karina Villa, D-West Chicago, is sponsoring new legislation to crack down on human trafficking and provide more time for survivors to come forward.

“Survivors need to know that the law will help to bring their abusers to justice, even if it takes time for them to come forward,” said Villa. “This legislation will also institute harsh financial penalties for businesses that benefit from human trafficking, and provide new training to law enforcement to aid them in recognizing and investigating sex trafficking rings.”

Villa is sponsoring Senate Bill 1890, which makes widespread changes to current law to crack down on human trafficking by subjecting businesses that benefit from human trafficking and similar crimes to new fines of up to $100,000, extending the statute of limitations on both criminal and civil cases up to 25 years, and providing further training for all law enforcement officers on identifying and investigating suspected human trafficking situations. The legislation passed out of the Illinois House Judiciary – Criminal Committee with unanimous bipartisan support.

“This legislation will ensure that perpetrators that prey upon vulnerable women and children are brought to justice and face tough penalties for their crimes,” continued Villa. “I urge lawmakers in the House to stand up against the heinous crime of human trafficking and pass this legislation so that we can send it to the governor’s desk.”

For more information, contact Villa’s constituent services office at 630-326-9319 or StateRepKarinaVilla@gmail.com.

SPRINGFIELD, IL. –State Rep. Jaime Andrade, D-Chicago, is supporting legislation that will bring human trafficking criminals to justice by imposing harsher penalties and providing law enforcement with more resources to crack down on them.

“Women and children are often victims of human trafficking and it is unacceptable that Illinois ranks amongst the top places for these shameful crimes to occur,” Andrade said. “This legislation is a necessary step that will crack down on criminals and bring justice to the survivors.”

According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, Illinois reported 135 cases of human trafficking in 2018. The previous year, the National Hotline ranked Illinois the 11th highest reporting rate for cases of sex trafficking and labor exploitation, nationally.   

The Andrade-backed Senate Bill 1890 will strengthen the process to prosecute criminals of human trafficking. Under this legislation, disreputable businesses that benefit from human trafficking, sex trade activities, or involuntary servitude will be subjected to fines of up to $100,000. The measure also increases the time law enforcement can prosecute a criminal by extending the criminal statute of limitations from three years to 25 years. This legislation also provides survivors up to 25 years, as opposed to 10 years, to seek civil penalties against their abusers.

Finally, this legislation will require new and current law enforcement officers to receive training in identifying and investigating human trafficking. 

“By requiring that local law enforcement undergo training and have better access to resources, they will be equipped to spot human trafficking and protect victims,,”  Andrade added. “We must continue to move legislation that increases the line of defense against crime to ensure we prevent cases of human trafficking in our state.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Joyce Mason, D-Gurnee, is sponsoring Senate Bill 1890, a measure that creates additional safeguards for victims of human trafficking by expanding law enforcement trainings, extending the criminal statute of limitations and cracking down on businesses associated with human trafficking.

“Due to the nature of human trafficking, it often takes additional time for victims to recover from the crimes committed against them,” said Mason. “This legislation implements a variety of new measures that would substantially increase the judicial resources that are afforded to victims of human trafficking, granting them a greater ability to seek justice.”

Current law only requires newly hired police officers to be trained on human trafficking. Senate Bill 1890 expands that training requirement to include all currently serving law enforcement officers. The measure also extends the criminal statute of limitations for prosecuting human trafficking crimes from three years to 25 years and increases the fine for businesses involved in human trafficking to $100,000. For more information on Senate Bill 1890, please contact Mason’s constituent service office at 847-485-9986 or email info@repjoycemason.com.

“As lawmakers, it is our duty to be a voice for the voiceless, and victims of human trafficking are some of the most voiceless among us,” said Mason. “Passing this measure is imperative to returning autonomy to these victims, and ensuring that the individuals perpetuating and committing these crimes are fully prosecuted under the law.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Human traffickers and others who profit from the exploitation of vulnerable women and children will face harsher penalties under a new measure backed by state Rep. Terra Costa Howard, D-Glen Ellyn.

“I am proud to continue my fight against the heinous crime of human trafficking,” said Costa Howard.  “My legislation will make sure law enforcement officers have the training they need to identify and investigate human trafficking and involuntary servitude. This bill also will impose severe financial penalties on businesses that benefit from these crimes.”

Costa Howard is sponsoring Senate Bill 1890, which makes extensive changes to Illinois’ current human trafficking laws.  Under Costa Howard’s bill, businesses that benefit from human trafficking and similar crimes will face new fines of up to $100,000. The bill also provides further training for all law enforcement officers on identifying and investigating suspected human trafficking situations and extends the statute of limitations on both criminal and civil cases to 25 years.

“I have spent my career in the courtroom advocating for our most vulnerable residents as a guardian ad litem, and I am committed to giving survivors a voice in our legislature,” continued Costa Howard. “This legislation offers a comprehensive plan to crack down on human traffickers who prey upon vulnerable women and children, and I encourage lawmakers from around the state to stand up and join me in supporting it.”