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Pennsylvania House of Representatives
04/30/2024 03:59 AM
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20230&cosponId=41985
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House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: January 22, 2024 04:18 PM
From: Representative Doyle Heffley
To: All House members
Subject: Bolstering the Commonwealth’s reporting process pertaining to children who are assessed for being victims of sex trafficking
 
Sex trafficking is a serious issue impacting the safety and well-being of individuals and families, and one which disturbingly continues to proliferate in our communities. 

In Pennsylvania we have enacted several pieces of legislation to address this important issue, including Act 105 of 2014, Act 94 of 2015, Act 115 of 2016 and Act 130 of 2018.  Similarly, the federal government has enacted laws to combat sex trafficking, including the Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act.  An important part of that federal law instructs states to conduct screenings of children in foster care for sex trafficking after those children return from going missing.  But after a lengthy review, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, published a report reviewing the data of five states. Each of the five states failed to adequately conduct such screenings.  Of those five states, Pennsylvania had the highest spectrum of case files with no evidence of screening – a full 85% of the cases reviewed.  Moreover, the Office of Inspector General found that even when screenings occurred, they often lacked the information needed to ensure that children were accurately identified as victims of sex trafficking. 

Act 94 of 2015 requires that county children and youth agencies provide DHS with information pertaining to the total number of children who are sex trafficking victims. DHS publishes the information in their annual report.    

However, simply reporting the total number of children who are victims of sex trafficking does not present the whole picture. Additional information is needed to ensure that Pennsylvania is taking the necessary steps to identify the victims and provide them with the services that they need.  

To ensure that the Pennsylvania General Assembly has this important information, my legislation will amend the law to require DHS to provide the appropriate legislative oversight committees with the following information:    
  • The number of children who have been reported missing when under the care and supervision of children and youth and what percentage of the children were subsequently located.  
  • The number of children who have been screened and assessed as possible victims of sex trafficking and the number of children who have been identified as such using the assessment tool. 
  • A report of DHS’ efforts to ensure compliance with the existing federal and state requirements pertaining to sex trafficking. 
 
Please consider joining me as a co-sponsor to promote the safety and protection of our children.
 


Introduced as HB2100