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Minutes for SB371 - Committee on Judiciary
Short Title
Requiring posting of a human trafficking awareness notice approved by the attorney general in certain businesses and public places.
Minutes Content for Mon, Feb 17, 2020
Jason Thompson explained SB371 requires putting human trafficking awareness notices in certain businesses. It would maintain current requirements and add a requirement (vs. just permitting it) that the information be added to workplace noticeboards and to places visible to the public. (Attachment 3)
The Division of the Budget submitted a fiscal note for the bill. (Attachment 4).
There was discussion of the bill.
Jennifer Montgomery presented testimony in support of SB371 explaining that she is Co- Chair of the Human Trafficking Advisory Board. Human trafficking is present in all 50 states. The Human Trafficking Hotline takes calls 24/7 and it is well utilized. There were 269 calls from Kansas alone in 2018. The Hotline connects people with support services and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. Posters can be obtained free of charge from her office. She puts posters in doctor offices; hospitals; Kansas Dept. of Transportation locations; and more. She wants to put them in more places because they are working. (Attachment 5)
Sharon Sullivan presented testimony in support of SB371 explaining that she is a professor at Washburn University and she has been training and working with human trafficking workshops nationwide. Awareness posters and the hotline number are simple, cheap and effective way to provide awareness. (Attachment 6)
The following written proponent testimony was submitted:
- Thomas M Palace, Executive Director, Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Assn. of Kansas (Attachment 7)
Phil Bradley presented neutral testimony for SB371 explaining that hospitality businesses -- restaurants, beverages, even fireworks stands -- support the efforts of the Attorney General's office to stop, reduce or punish human trafficking. He would like to have posters to distribute throughout the hospitality industry. If this is mandatory and one group is required and another is not required to use the posters, the other group will say, "Not my problem." He suggested it be a voluntary program. If mandatory, the program should broaden to include more groups. Posters should be more places, not just frequented by those in trouble, but also those who are witnesses of their plight. (Attachment 8)
Questions: Hardy: to Bradley: purpose behind the bill and the bill itself: workplace bulletin board info becomes invisible. What establishments are appropriate to post this notice? Worried about visibility of the notice. Posters are more effective, more eye catching than "minimum wage" type poster. People find the ones they want. Putting it where they can be privately seems most effective. Putting it everywhere does not make it invisible. Again folks find what they are looking for. Putting these notice on the workplace bulletin board, it probably will be harder to get seen.
There were questions for the conferees.
The hearing was closed.
