Establishing a human trafficking investigative task force

Description

House File 2565 establishes a human trafficking investigative task force within the Department of Public Safety (DPS) and a special office to prosecute crimes related to human trafficking within the Office of the Attorney General (AG).

Division I — Formation and Authority of Iowa Human Trafficking Task Force

Description

The Bill renames the Office to Combat Human Trafficking to the Iowa Human Trafficking Task Force (Task Force) in Iowa Code section 80.45 within the DPS to oversee and coordinate efforts to combat human trafficking. The Task Force has the full authority to make arrests, to call on other law enforcement entities within the State to assist with arrests and investigations, and to provide any back-up or necessary support that it requires in the execution of its duties as prescribed by law. The Task Force shall also have an office and call center that is staffed by personnel assigned to it 24 hours per day, seven days per week, including during holidays. The Commissioner of the DPS must appoint a director of the Task Force. The Task Force shall have four teams that are divided geographically into four quadrants where Interstates 35 and 80 will be the boundaries. The Task Force must have all of the following personnel:

• A deputy director who must be a certified law enforcement officer with the State of Iowa and who has specialized training in human trafficking.
• One person to act as an intelligence and evidence officer or investigator who has specialized training in human trafficking, white collar crimes, and intelligence gathering and analysis.
• One person to oversee and conduct cybercrimes investigations, information technology forensics, and oversight of the Task Force’s cybercrimes operations, investigations, and intelligence gathering.
• Eight total investigators, two of whom are to be placed in each quadrant, who are certified law enforcement officers with the State of Iowa and who have specialized training in human trafficking.
• Four victim advocates, one of whom is to be placed in each quadrant, who have specialized training for human trafficking victims.
• Four emergency dispatchers who have specialized training in human trafficking to staff the office and call center.

Background

Currently, Iowa Code section 80.45 establishes the Office to Combat Human Trafficking within the DPS. The Office to Combat Human Trafficking receives an annual General Fund appropriation of $201,000 in the Justice System Appropriations Act.

Assumptions

• An additional 20.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions will be required to implement the Task Force. These additional FTE positions and estimated costs include the following:
• One Director at an estimated annual salary and benefits cost of $235,000.
• One Deputy Director at an estimated annual salary and benefits cost of $211,000.
• One Intelligence Officer at an estimated annual salary and benefits cost of $113,000.
• One Cybercrimes Investigator at an estimated annual salary and benefits cost of $187,000.
• Six Regional Investigators at an estimated annual salary and benefits cost of $187,000 per position, totaling $1,122,000.
• Four Regional Victim Advocates at an estimated annual salary and benefits cost of $82,000 per position, totaling $332,000.
• Six Communication Specialists at an estimated annual salary and benefits cost of $90,000 per position, totaling $540,000.
• The FTE costs for DPS are based on mid-tier to upper-tier salary ranges.
• Annual day-to-day operating costs for the Task Force are estimated to be $192,300.
• One-time costs required to implement the Task Force are estimated as follows:
• Initial training at an estimated cost of $100,000.
• Dispatch console at an estimated cost of $600,000.
• Thirteen vehicles at an estimated total cost of $546,000.
• Uniforms and related equipment at an estimated cost of $22,500.
• IT equipment at an estimated cost of $40,000.

Fiscal Impact

The fiscal impact for Division I for FY 2027 is estimated at approximately $4.2 million. The ongoing annual costs are estimated to be $2.7 million.

Division II — Formation and Authority of Special Office to Prosecute Crimes Related to

Human Trafficking

Description

The Bill directs the AG to add a new division to the AG’s office that is to be known as the Iowa Human Trafficking Task Force Special Prosecution Team. The special prosecution team will prosecute crimes and take actions in the courts on behalf of the Task Force. The AG will have the full vested authority of oversight and direction of the Assistant AGs, including providing funding for support and professional staff to support the division’s functions. Under the Bill, the Auditor of State must appoint four Assistant AGs for the sole purpose of prosecuting crimes that are related to human trafficking and the subject of investigation and arrest of the Task Force. One Assistant AG must represent each quadrant of the State.

Assumptions

• The AG’s office will require 4.0 Assistant Attorney General 3 positions at a cost of $153,000 per position.
• The FTE costs for Assistant Attorney General 3 range from $107,000 to $153,000. The AG’s office is assuming mid-tier to upper-tier salary ranges.

Fiscal Impact

The fiscal impact for Division II of the Bill is approximately $612,000.

Fiscal Impact Summary

Figure 1 below shows the total fiscal impact for House File 2565.

Figure 1 — Total Estimated Costs for HF 2565 FY 2027 FY 2028 Division I (DPS) 20.0 FTE Positions $ 2,740,000 $ 2,740,000 Vehicles & Equipment 1,209,000 0 Training & Support 292,000 192,000 Subtotal $ 4,241,000 $ 2,932,000 Division II (AG) 4.0 FTE Positions $ 612,000 $ 612,000 Total $ 4,852,000 $ 3,544,000

Sources

• Office of the Attorney General
• Auditor of State’s Office
• Department of Public Safety