HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3490        FILED ON: 1/21/2011

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2835

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Peter J. Koutoujian

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying resolve:

Resolve providing for an investigation and study by a special commission relative to human trafficking in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts..

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3490        FILED ON: 1/21/2011

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2835

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Eleven

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Resolve providing for an investigation and study by a special commission relative to human trafficking in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts..

Resolved,

Resolved, That a special commission is hereby established for the purposes of making an investigation and study relative to human trafficking, methods for advertising human trafficking services, and the victimization of individuals coerced to participate in trafficking services.  The commission shall examine the extent to which human trafficking is prevalent in t8e Commonwealth, the scope of efforts being taken to prevent human trafficking from occurring, and the services available to victims of trafficking in the Commonwealth.  The commission shall investigate the limitations upon victims who wish to come forward and seek medical attention; the potential to stop human trafficking; and the potential to promote recovery, to protect families and children who may be profoundly impacted by such abuse, and to save lives.

The commission shall consist of 32 members, including 3 members of the house of representatives, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives as co-chair and 1 of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader; 3 members of the senate, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the senate president as co-chair and 1 of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader, in addition to a member from each of the following agencies: the executive director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition or their designee, the State Attorney General or their designee, the executive director of the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance or their designee, the executive director of the Massachusetts Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children or their designee, the executive director of the Massachusetts Association of Crime Analysts or their designee, the executive director of the Massachusetts Sheriff Association or their designee, the executive director of JaneDoe Inc. or their designee, the secretary of the Department of Education or their designee, the secretary of the Department of Public Health or their designee, the United States Attorney General or their designee, the executive directory of the Massachusetts District Attorneys Association or their designee, Governor or their designee, the Lieutenant Governor or their designee, the colonel of State Police or their designee, the executive director of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police or their designee, the director of the Boston Police Department's Human Trafficking Unit or their designee, the Senate President or their designee, the Speaker of the House of Representatives or their designee, the secretary of the Department of Children and Families or their designee, the secretary of  Department of Youth Services or their designee, the dean of the Massachusetts College of Emergency Medicine or their designee,  the Executive Director of the Governors Taskforce on Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence or any subsequent Governor’s commission dealing with similar subject matter or their designee; 2 members from the faith based community or their designee.

All appointments shall be made not later than 30 days after the effective date of this resolve.  The chairpersons shall meet with the commission not later than 60 days after the effective date of this resolve. 

Not later than 1 year after the effective date of this resolve, and every six months thereafter,  the commission shall report to the general court the result of its investigation and study and its recommendations, if any, together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry its recommendations into effect by filing the same with the clerk of the house of representatives.