HB260:

Human Trafficking Victim Support Certification Program; victim support certificate.

Bill Summary:

Sex Trafficking Response Coordinator; Human Trafficking Victim Support Certification Program; victim service providers. Requires all victim service providers working or volunteering for a treatment program for victims of human trafficking, including sex trafficking, to obtain a human trafficking victim support certificate through the Human Trafficking Victim Support Certification Program developed by the Sex Trafficking Response Coordinator within the Department of Criminal Justice Services and to renew such certificate through the Program every two years. The bill also provides that all treatment programs for victims of human trafficking, including sex trafficking, shall ensure that all victim service providers working or volunteering for such program obtain and maintain the required human trafficking victim support certificate and that any treatment program that is not in compliance may be ineligible for grants from the Commonwealth available for treatment programs for sex trafficking or any other form of human trafficking. The bill requires any person who is a victim service provider working or volunteering for a treatment program for victims of human trafficking, including sex trafficking, prior to July 1, 2022 to obtain a human trafficking victim support certificate by July 1, 2024. The bill requires the Sex Trafficking Response Coordinator to develop and oversee the Program and establish compulsory minimum training standards for such program.