SB 212-HUMAN TRAFFICKING TASK FORCE  1:42:20 PM CHAIR FRENCH announced the consideration of SB 212. SENATOR LESIL MCGUIRE, sponsor of SB 212, explained that the bill establishes a task force to look at the issue of human trafficking. It will consist of representatives from the Department of Law (DOL), the Department of Public Safety (DPS), and the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS). The attorney general or their designee will serve as chair. The task force will report, by January 15, 2013, the following to the Legislature: 1) the number of human trafficking cases reported to state and local law enforcement agencies since 2007; 2) the number of human trafficking cases prosecuted under Alaska law; 3) the number of human trafficking cases state and local law enforcement agencies have investigated in cooperation with federal agencies; and 4) the services currently available to victims of human trafficking for medical or psychological counseling, emergency shelter, translation services, and other assistance related to safe housing and legal services. SENATOR MCGUIRE expressed hope that the task force would also reflect on the possibility of a civil remedy to aid victims and deter criminals that might have a financial incentive to run sex trafficking rings. CHAIR FRENCH said he liked the approach, and would be thinking about the intersection between trafficking and prostitution. 1:48:09 PM SENATOR PASKVAN and Senator Coghill joined the committee. 1:49:34 PM JAMES DOLD, Policy Counsel, Polaris Project, Washington, D.C., explained that this organization works to stop human trafficking primarily doing three things. First, it offers survivors of labor and sex trafficking offering holistic case management, group therapy session, and transitional housing. Second, it operates the national human trafficking resource center and hotline for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Finally, it engages in policy advocacy to help build strong legal frameworks so communities and states can more adequately respond to human trafficking. He said two types of activity occur under the federal definition of trafficking. One type involves individuals who use force, threats and other coercive tactics to compel or induce another person to engage in a commercial sex act or forced labor of services. The other type involves facilitators that recruit, entice, solicit, harbor, or transport individuals knowing they will be in a forced labor of services or commercial sex exploitation situation. He noted that federal law makes a distinction when a child is under age 18. All children under age 18 who are engaged in commercial sex - regardless of whether there is a third-party controller - are viewed as victims of trafficking under federal law. Some states, too, have recognized how vulnerable children may be and have responded by passing safe-harbor laws so that these children are viewed as victims of a crime instead of prostitutes. MR. DOLD stated that SB 212 is a much-needed first step to begin addressing the overall needs of victims of human trafficking in Alaska. He mentioned the importance of getting the right people to the table and suggested expanding the task force to include non-governmental organizations and service providers that are based in Alaska and to encourage the task force to develop legislative recommendations. 2:03:58 PM SENATOR COGHILL asked what agencies the Polaris Project works with horizontally. MR. DOLD said it is part of a national working group called The Alliance to End Slavery and Trafficking (ATEST) and works closely with Shared Hope International. Polaris also works with domestic and sexual violence coalitions in individual states. SENATOR COGHILL stated support for using the expertise from organizations like Shared Hope International. 2:06:34 PM SENATOR PASKVAN asked if it would be appropriate for a task force to look into state or region-specific predictors of where trafficking might arise. MR. DOLD said yes, and Alaska Natives appear to be a particularly vulnerable population. CHAIR FRENCH closed public testimony and announced he would hold SB 212 in committee.