Human trafficking prevention coordinator proposed

Human trafficking prevention efforts in Nebraska would be coordinated by a single individual under a measure heard by the Judiciary Committee Jan. 30.

LB934, introduced by Lincoln Sen. Amanda McGill, would create a coordinator of human trafficking prevention and rehabilitation under the Nebraska Crime Commission. The position is intended to lead and coordinate efforts, research and assist in implementing programs.

The bill is estimated to cost $118,000 in fiscal year 2014-15 for the position, a study and related costs.

McGill said a recently created task force on trafficking resulted in her office and other groups being overwhelmed by Nebraskans seeking information about and reporting incidents of human trafficking. Despite best efforts to respond to citizens’ concerns, she said, “we are still not moving along with improving victim services as quickly as I believe we need to be.”

“It’s become clear that in order to move forward in a meaningful way, we need to have this dedicated statewide coordinator—a single person whose job it is to lead efforts,” McGill said.

Al Riskowski of the Human Trafficking Task Force testified in support of the bill. He said the group has discovered that human trafficking is an extensive problem in Nebraska, with more than 1,200 adult women estimated to be involved in the sex trade in Lincoln and Omaha. A coordinator would give the task force much needed guidance on how to address this problem, Riskowski said.

No one provided opposing or neutral testimony and the committee took no immediate action on LB934.