STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
4763
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
April 15, 2015
___________
Introduced by Sen. FUNKE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Social Services
AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to the composition
of the interagency task force on human trafficking and their meetings;
and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration there-
of
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The social services law is amended by adding a new section
2 483-ee to read as follows:
3 § 483-ee. Establishment of interagency task force on human traffick-
4 ing. (a) There is established an interagency task force on trafficking
5 in persons, which shall consist of the following members or their desig-
6 nees: (1) the commissioner of the division of criminal justice services;
7 (2) the commissioner of the office of temporary and disability assist-
8 ance; (3) the commissioner of health; (4) the commissioner of the office
9 of mental health; (5) the commissioner of labor; (6) the commissioner of
10 the office of children and family services; (7) the commissioner of the
11 office of alcoholism and substance abuse services; (8) the director of
12 the office of victim services; (9) the executive director of the office
13 for the prevention of domestic violence; (10) the superintendent of the
14 division of state police; and the following additional members, who
15 shall be promptly appointed by the governor, each for a term of two
16 years, provided that such person's membership shall continue after such
17 two year term until a successor is appointed and provided, further, that
18 a member may be reappointed if again recommended in the manner specified
19 in this subdivision: (11) two members, who shall be appointed on the
20 recommendation of the temporary president of the senate; (12) two
21 members, who shall be appointed on the recommendation of the speaker of
22 the assembly; (13) two members, who shall be appointed on the recommen-
23 dation of the not-for-profit organization in New York state that
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04626-01-5
S. 4763 2
1 receives the largest share of funds, appropriated by and through the
2 state budget, for providing services to victims of human trafficking, as
3 shall be identified annually in writing by the director of the budget;
4 and (14) one member, who shall be appointed on the recommendation of the
5 president of the New York state bar association; and others as may be
6 necessary to carry out the duties and responsibilities under this
7 section. The task force will be co-chaired by the commissioners of the
8 division of criminal justice services and the office of temporary and
9 disability assistance, or their designees. It shall meet as often as is
10 necessary, but no less than three times per year, and under circum-
11 stances as are appropriate to fulfilling its duties under this section.
12 All members shall be provided with written notice reasonably in advance
13 of each meeting with date, time and location of such meeting.
14 (b) The task force shall: (1) collect and organize data on the nature
15 and extent of trafficking in persons in the state; (2) identify avail-
16 able federal, state and local programs that provide services to victims
17 of trafficking, including but not limited to case management, housing,
18 health care, mental health counseling, drug addiction screening and
19 treatment, language interpretation and translation services, English
20 language instruction, job training and placement assistance, post-em-
21 ployment services for job retention, and services to assist the individ-
22 ual and any of his or her family members to establish a permanent resi-
23 dence in New York state or the United States; (3) consult with
24 governmental and non-governmental organizations in developing recommen-
25 dations to strengthen state and local efforts to prevent trafficking,
26 protect and assist victims of trafficking and prosecute traffickers; (4)
27 establish interagency protocols and collaboration between federal,
28 state, and local law enforcement, state and governmental agencies, child
29 welfare agencies, and non-governmental organizations; (5) evaluate
30 approaches to increase public awareness about trafficking and make
31 recommendations on such approaches; (6) evaluate the effectiveness of
32 training programs on human trafficking that have been designed for law
33 enforcement personnel, criminal defense attorneys, social service
34 providers and non-governmental organizations, and make recommendations
35 for improving the quality and effectiveness of such programs; (7) meas-
36 ure and evaluate the progress of the state in preventing trafficking,
37 protecting and providing assistance to victims of trafficking, and pros-
38 ecuting persons engaged in trafficking; and (8) convene any subcommittee
39 necessary, provided such subcommittee has at least one of the members
40 appointed by the speaker of the assembly, temporary president of the
41 senate or governor, to consider specific issues, including, but not
42 limited to: federal, state and/or local cooperation; juveniles and human
43 trafficking; the importance of training and who should receive such
44 training; how data is compiled and shared; services for and treatment of
45 domestic versus foreign born victims.
46 (c) The task force shall report to the governor, the speaker of the
47 assembly, the minority leader of the assembly, the temporary president
48 of the senate and the minority leader of the senate no less than annual-
49 ly, and it shall additionally issue such reports and recommendations as
50 it deems necessary to carry out its duties and responsibilities.
51 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall remain in full
52 force and effect until September 1, 2019 when upon such date the
53 provisions of this act shall expire and be deemed repealed.
