04/22/2024 05:30 PM House RULES

               HB 264-CHILD TRAFFICKING SCREENING                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
5:37:44 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR C. JOHNSON  announced the first order of  business would be                                                               
HOUSE BILL  NO. 264, "An  Act requiring the Department  of Family                                                               
and  Community  Services  to  adopt  a  uniform  screening  tool;                                                               
requiring  shelters  for  runaway  minors to  screen  minors  for                                                               
victimization  relating to  sexual  abuse,  sex trafficking,  and                                                               
commercial  sexual  exploitation;  requiring  the  Department  of                                                               
Family and Community  Services to screen children in  need of aid                                                               
for victimization relating to sexual  abuse, sex trafficking, and                                                               
commercial sexual exploitation;  and relating to the  duty of the                                                               
Department of  Family and Community  Services to  investigate the                                                               
experiences  of missing  children in  need of  aid who  have been                                                               
located."  [Before the committee was CSHB 264(HSS) AM.]                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
5:37:49 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took an at-ease from 5:37 p.m. to 5:41 p.m.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
5:41:27 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  TILTON  moved  to adopt  the  proposed  committee                                                               
substitute  (CS)  for  HB  264,  Version  33-LS1126\R,  Bergerud,                                                               
3/28/24, as a working document.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR C. JOHNSON objected for the purpose of discussion.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
5:42:08 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SARAH  VANCE, Alaska  State Legislature,  as prime                                                               
sponsor,  presented  HB 264,  Version  R.   She  paraphrased  the                                                               
sponsor statement [included in the  committee packet], which read                                                               
as follows [original punctuation provided]:                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     HB 264  An Act requiring  the Department of  Family and                                                                    
     Community Services  to adopt a uniform  screening tool;                                                                    
     requiring shelters for runaway  minors to screen minors                                                                    
     for  victimization   relating  to  sexual   abuse,  sex                                                                    
     trafficking,   and   commercial  sexual   exploitation;                                                                    
     requiring  the  Department   of  Family  and  Community                                                                    
     Services  to  screen  children   in  need  of  aid  for                                                                    
     victimization   relating    to   sexual    abuse,   sex                                                                    
     trafficking,  and commercial  sexual exploitation;  and                                                                    
     relating to  the duty of  the Department of  Family and                                                                    
     Community  Services to  investigate the  experiences of                                                                    
     missing children in need of aid who have been located.                                                                     
     "An  Act   requiring  the  Department  of   Family  and                                                                    
     Community Services  to screen  children in need  of aid                                                                    
     for  victimization   relating  to  sexual   abuse,  sex                                                                    
     trafficking, and commercial sexual exploitation?'"                                                                         
     House Bill  264 addresses a critical  issue highlighted                                                                    
     by the National Foster  Youth Institute, revealing that                                                                    
     up  to 60%  of  child sex  trafficking  victims have  a                                                                    
     history in  foster care. Additionally, a  federal study                                                                    
     in  2021 and  2022 found  that a  third of  335 at-risk                                                                    
     youth surveyed reported running  away or being expelled                                                                    
     before falling  victim to trafficking.  Recognizing the                                                                    
     heightened risk  for kids in  the system  and runaways,                                                                    
     this bill  proposes a vital step  in safeguarding their                                                                    
     well-being.                                                                                                                
     The legislation  requires the Department of  Family and                                                                    
     Community Services,  along with  each local  office, to                                                                    
     adopt  a uniform  screening tool  specifically designed                                                                    
     to identify  children who are victims  of sexual abuse,                                                                    
     sex  trafficking,  or commercial  sexual  exploitation.                                                                    
     House  Bill 264  emphasizes the  need for  a systematic                                                                    
     process  of targeted  inquiry, crucial  for identifying                                                                    
     youth  who  may have  experienced  or  are at  risk  of                                                                    
     experiencing child sex trafficking (CST).                                                                                  
     The screening  process becomes paramount  as it  can be                                                                    
     broadly applied to all youth  or a specific subset with                                                                    
     identified risk  factors. Given that youth  involved in                                                                    
     trafficking   may  be   hesitant   to  disclose   their                                                                    
     experiences  due  to  fear,  shame,  or  mistrust,  and                                                                    
     professionals may be reluctant  to broach the sensitive                                                                    
     topic, standardized screening tools become imperative.                                                                     
     Legislation mandating  the use  of a  uniform screening                                                                    
     tool  is   pivotal  in  creating  a   standardized  and                                                                    
     comprehensive approach across  Alaska. Such legislation                                                                    
     underscores   the  commitment   to  child   protection,                                                                    
     ensuring   that  every   child,  regardless   of  their                                                                    
     background or circumstances, is  given a fair chance to                                                                    
     disclose their experiences.  By adopting this proactive                                                                    
     approach, House Bill 264 aims  to create an environment                                                                    
     where  victims feel  supported and  empowered to  share                                                                    
     their   experiences,  signaling   a  significant   step                                                                    
     towards protecting vulnerable youth in the state.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
5:43:24 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR C. JOHNSON  explained that his objection was  raised due to                                                               
an amendment that occurred on the House floor.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
5:44:49 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took a brief at-ease at 5:44 p.m.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
5:45:13 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR C.  JOHNSON removed  his objection to  the motion  to adopt                                                               
the proposed  CS to HB 264,  Version R, as the  working document.                                                               
[There  being no  further  objection, Version  R  was before  the                                                               
committee.]                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
5:45:21 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  TILTON  moved to  report  CSHB  264, Version  33-                                                               
LS1126\R,  Bergerud, 3/28/24,  out of  committee with  individual                                                               
recommendations and  the accompanying fiscal notes.   There being                                                               
no objection, CSHB  264(RLS) was reported out of  the House Rules                                                               
Standing Committee.