AG creates human trafficking board - Pittsburg, KS - Morning Sun

By MATTHEW CLARK
The Morning Sun

Posted Jan 17, 2010 @ 01:06 AM
PITTSBURG —

In efforts to explore human trafficking in the state of Kansas, Attorney General Steve Six has created an advisory board.

The panel will consist of law enforcement, prosecutors, court personnel, advocates, victims and others that have expertise in the field.

Six said that the state needs to raise awareness of human trafficking and help victims through coordination of law enforcement and victim services agencies.

The creation of the panel coincides with a legislative measure proposed by Kansas Senate Majority Leader Derek Schmidt, D-Independence, that amends the current human trafficking legislation on the books in Kansas.

He said that his proposed amendments would strengthen current law.
“It is a problem that is right here at home so we thought we should add some tools to the toolbox,” Schmidt said.

Schmidt’s proposal includes adding human trafficking violations to the state’s asset forfeiture law.

That means that traffickers could forfeit their assets. The provision also creates new state crimes of “coercing employment” to satisfy a debt.

“People who make substantial amounts of money doing this should be subject to losing it all,” Schmidt said.

Matthew Clark can be reached at matthew.clark@morningsun.net or at 620-231-2600, Ext. 140

AG creates human trafficking board - Pittsburg, KS - Morning Sun