House Bill 148, sponsored by Representative Beth Kerttula (D-Juneau), will criminalize the trafficking of persons by making it an unclassified felony in the State of Alaska so that traffickers can be prosecuted at the state as well as the federal level. Under HB 148, a person commits the crime of trafficking of persons if they recruit, harbor, transport, provide or obtain by any means another person knowing that force, fraud or coercion will be used to cause the person to engage in forced labor, sexual conduct or involuntary servitude. The crime of trafficking also includes a person who benefits from participation in any venture involving forced labor, sexual conduct or involuntary servitude.

The U.S. State Department estimates that between 600,000-800,000 men, women and children are trafficked across international borders every year. Traffickers lure victims to other countries with the promise of a better life and good paying jobs. However, once traffickers have them under their control victims are subjected to forced labor, sexual exploitation and involuntary servitude.

The bill now moves to Senate Finance.

House Bill 101, sponsored by Representative Croft (D-Anchorage) prevents the advertisement, promotion, or facilitation of travel for the purpose of commercial sex. HB 101 attacks this serious problem at two of its fundamental economic stages. It targets those who traffic people for the purposes of forcing them into commercial sex acts, and it also targets the industries that create the demand for these horrible acts by offering "sex tours" and other promises of sex to Alaskan clients. HB 101 strikes at those who promote, organize or otherwise market commercial sex tours and travel services by making these activities punishable to the same degree as sex-trafficking itself.

The bill now moves to Senate Finance.

Upcoming Events-

Friday, February 3rd- Please join Senator Johnny Ellis and special guest Senator Hollis French at 4:30 pm for the "Demo Memo" on KUDO radio 1080 AM.  This is a weekly segment on The Aaron Selbig Show, KUDO 1080's local progressive voice, a chance for Senator Ellis and a special guest to do the week in review...what happened in Juneau, what's going on next week, what bills are moving and so on.