Madison, WI – Representative Rick Gundrum’s (R-Slinger) bills to target and reduce human trafficking passed during today’s Assembly floor session. The bills were part of a legislative package put forward by members of the bipartisan Speaker’s Task Force on Human Trafficking.
After passage of the bills, Representative Gundrum issued the following statement:
“I wanted to be on the Speaker’s Task Force on Human Trafficking because I believe everyone in Wisconsin should live in a society where no one will be exploited, and citizens may live safely in their own communities. Our state is not immune from human trafficking and I was happy that the bills put forward by this task force were worked on in a collaborative and bipartisan fashion.
We listened to the concerns of state agencies, advocacy groups, local government, and law enforcement to put forward a multi-pronged approach to reduce human trafficking. A key part of taking on human trafficking is ensuring that the current penalties are higher than the cost of soliciting a prostitute. I introduced Assembly Bill 972 to raise penalties and require a mandatory minimum term of confinement for those who solicit a prostitute. It also spreads awareness of these penalties by requiring they be added to the human trafficking resource hotline poster.
I also authored Assembly Bill 973 to require training in a variety of industries where employees are likely to interact with the public and vulnerable individuals. If we are to eradicate human trafficking in Wisconsin, then it is necessary for there to be training to help identify and prevent it from happening. That’s what this bill will accomplish.”
Assembly Bill 972 and Assembly Bill 973 were two of nine bills related to curbing human trafficking that were passed during today’s floor session. Other bills included creating a statewide Human Trafficking Council, allowing child trafficking victims to pursue civil action, and requiring development of school curriculum on human trafficking prevention.
