Relating to criminal and civil liability for facilitating human trafficking, and providing penalties

This bill relates to criminal and civil liability for facilitating human trafficking. The bill provides that a person who owns an internet site used for purpose of human trafficking is guilty of a class “D” felony, and a person who owns an internet site that fails to cooperate with an investigation pursuant to Code chapter 152C (massage therapy) or 157 (cosmetology) is guilty of a serious misdemeanor. A class “D” felony is punishable by confinement for no more than five years and a fine of at least $1,025 but not more than $10,245. A serious misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no more than one year and a fine of at least $430 but not more than $2,560. The bill provides a victim of human trafficking or a parent, guardian, or custodian of a human trafficking victim has a right of action against a social media platform, a social media application, or an internet site, who acted in violation of Code chapter 710A (human trafficking) or federal law (protection for private blocking and screening of offensive material), or who facilitated such a violation, for damages sustained due to the victim’s physical or emotional distress, or physical or emotional distress due to the absence of the victim, as applicable, and for punitive damages.