Bill Text: MI SB0499 | 2013-2014 | 97th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Law enforcement; other; human trafficking reporting act; create. Creates new act.
Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 10-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-09-17 - Referred To Committee On Families, Seniors And Human Services [SB0499 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2013-SB0499-Introduced.html
SENATE BILL No. 499
September 17, 2013, Introduced by Senators ANDERSON, HOPGOOD, ANANICH, JONES, BIEDA, JOHNSON, WHITMER, HUNTER, GREGORY, HOOD and YOUNG and referred to the Committee on Families, Seniors and Human Services.
A bill to create the human trafficking reporting act; to
provide a means of receiving confidential reports of human
trafficking; to prescribe the powers and duties of certain state
agencies; to require the maintenance of certain records; to provide
for confidentiality; to create the human trafficking prevention
fund; to provide for disbursements from the fund; and to provide
remedies and penalties.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "human
trafficking reporting act".
Sec. 2. As used in this act:
(a) "Department" means the department of state police.
(b) "Fund" means the human trafficking prevention fund created
in section 5.
(c) "Human trafficking" means a violation of chapter LXVIIA of
the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.462a to 750.462j.
Sec. 3. (1) The department shall establish a program for
receiving reports and other information from the public regarding
human trafficking violations in this state.
(2) The program described in subsection (1) shall provide for
a toll-free telephone number for reporting human trafficking
violations. The toll-free telephone number shall be available to
receive reports and other information regarding human trafficking
violations 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The toll-free telephone
number shall allow for reports by voice or text messaging.
(3) The program described in subsection (1) shall allow for
reports and other information to be made to the department
anonymously.
(4) Notwithstanding subsection (3), the program described in
subsection (1) shall allow any person making a report under this
act to receive a unique code that will allow that person to be
identified as having provided information to the department under
this act. The code shall allow the department to access all of the
information provided to the department by that person upon the
request of that person.
(5) The department shall maintain a record of all information
provided to the department under this act. All records of the
department maintained under this section are official records of
the department.
Sec. 4. (1) Any information provided to the department under
section 3 that would identify a person as having reported a
violation or otherwise provided information to the department under
this act is confidential and is not subject to disclosure under the
freedom of information act, 1976 PA 442, MCL 15.231 to 15.246.
(2) A person who intentionally discloses information to
another person in violation of subsection (1) is guilty of a
misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 90 days or
a fine of not more than $500.00, or both.
Sec. 5. (1) The human trafficking prevention fund is created
within the state treasury.
(2) The state treasurer may receive money or other assets from
any source for deposit into the fund. The state treasurer shall
direct the investment of the fund. The state treasurer shall credit
to the fund interest and earnings from fund investments.
(3) Money in the fund at the close of the fiscal year shall
remain in the fund and shall not lapse to the general fund.
(4) The department shall be the administrator of the fund for
auditing purposes.
(5) The department shall expend money from the fund, upon
appropriation, only for 1 or more of the following purposes:
(a) To create and maintain a program for a toll-free telephone
number to report human trafficking violations.
(b) To pay the administrative costs of the department under
this act.
(c) To increase awareness of human trafficking and of the
ability to report violations to the department as provided in this
act.
(d) To train local law enforcement personnel in recognizing
human trafficking violations and in enforcing the laws relating to
those violations.
