Human trafficking

With only seven legislative days left in the 2013 session, the Legislature is winding down and preparing to finish its work by June 5.

This last week seemed to move fairly slow with a lot of prolonged debate on many of the bills discussed, except for the bill I wanted to highlight in this week's letter.

Legislative Bill 255 advanced to Select File, the second round of debate, on Thursday May 23 after a brief discussion. LB255 is a bill introduce by Sen. McGill seeking to address areas related to human trafficking. Unfortunately, this is a growing problem internationally, nationally, and even in our state.

While the Legislature set up a task force to study, promote awareness, and make recommendations for attacking this problem in Nebraska last year, Sen. McGill and I decided to keep moving forward by introducing legislation this year looking at different approaches for addressing human trafficking, LB255 being one of them.

Though I was disappointed that some of the provisions in the bill didn't make it out of the Judiciary Committee, I believe LB255 continues to move us forward in addressing more areas of this awful crime and keeping the focus on it.

First the bill adds human trafficking as a potential element of the crime of child abuse. Second, it provides for an affirmative defense for someone arrested for prostitution that they were victims of human trafficking; individuals under 18 would be immune to prosecution and put into temporary custody according to our Nebraska Juvenile Code, along with an investigation of potential human trafficking under our Child Protection Act. Third, the bill increases the penalty for the "John" the person soliciting prostitution of someone under 18 to a Class IV felony. The penalty was also increased for keeping a house of prostitution if someone under 18 was involved to a Class IV felony. Finally, it tighten up our human trafficking definitions and laws and added the offense of labor trafficking of a minor.

LB314, which was my approach to make it more difficult for human trafficking and other crime to grow in Nebraska by shining a light of accountability on the escort and private erotic entertainment businesses is still in committee. I am continuing to work with the committee and other senators to find a way forward with the bill to help keep an eye on an industry known to act as a front for prostitution, human trafficking, and other crime.

If you have any questions or comments, contact my office. Mark R. Christensen, PO Box 94604, Lincoln, NE 68509, 402-471-2805 or mchristensen@leg.ne.gov.