HB148 - Human trafficking services; adds to responsibilities of DSS certain duties related to prevention.

1 Co-Sponsor

Department of Social Services; human trafficking services. Adds to the responsibilities of the Department of Social Services certain duties related to human trafficking prevention and victim support. The bill requires the Department, among other things, to develop a tiered certification system for programs that provide services to victims of human trafficking, which shall consider (i) whether the program is accredited by a nationally recognized credentialing entity; (ii) the program's services, practices, governance, organizational structure, leadership, financial management, and compliance history; and (iii) any other criteria deemed relevant by the Department. The bill also authorizes the Department, subject to regulations of the Board of Social Services and the availability of state or federal funds, to receive state and federal funds for services to victims of human trafficking; disburse funds through matching grants to local public or private nonprofit agencies to provide service programs for the victims of human trafficking; and develop and implement grant mechanisms for funding such local services.