Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt is asking for more bipartisan efforts to combat human trafficking in the state. He made the request Monday, on National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, as state lawmakers go back to Topeka to begin their 2021 session.
Schmidt said he will ask for the reintroduction of two bills from last year that failed to pass when the COVID-19 pandemic brought an early end to the legislative session.
One bill will require the posting of the National Human Trafficking Hotline in certain businesses and public places. Posting the hotline, 1-888-373-7888, helps connect victims to services and encourages the public to report potential trafficking.
The second bill would change the terminology used to describe crimes associated with trafficking and sexual exploitation.
Both bills are from recommendations made by the Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Advisory Board.
