Relating to human trafficking, including screening children, civil statutes of limitations, an annual stakeholder meeting and report, depositions of victims, restitution, restorative facilities and protective services, and investigation and prosecution, and making appropriations

This bill relates to human trafficking, including civil statutes of limitations, an annual stakeholder meeting and report, depositions of victims, restitution, restorative facilities and protective services, and investigation and prosecution. The bill directs the office to combat human trafficking within the department of public safety to hold an annual meeting of stakeholders to develop legislative proposals to combat human trafficking, and submit a report to the governor and general assembly by December 15, 2025, and annually thereafter for five years until the submission of the report in 2030. The bill specifies the participants in the meeting. The bill increases the statute of limitations for commencing an action for sexual abuse or human trafficking of a minor or child to five years after the victim has attained 18 years of age. The bill provides that “commercial sexual exploitation” refers to a range of crimes and activities involving the sexual abuse or exploitation of a child for the financial benefit of any person or in exchange for anything of value including monetary and nonmonetary benefits given or received by any person. The bill requires the juvenile court or the court’s designee to order a child screened for exploitation using a standardized, evidence-based, trauma-informed screening tool when the court receives a complaint alleging that the child committed a delinquent act. The bill requires the department of health and human services (HHS) to screen a child for exploitation using a standardized, evidence-based, trauma-informed screening tool if HHS determines a report it receives alleging child abuse constitutes a child abuse allegation. The bill requires the juvenile court to order a substance use disorder screening of a child prior to the final disposition of the child’s case. The bill provides that the time limitations for actions are extended in favor of minors so that they have five years from reaching the age of majority to make a claim.79 or shall be referred to HHS for the possible filing of a petition alleging that the person is a child in need of assistance.2(13)(b) (operating while under the influence), court costs, court-appointed attorney fees, and payment to the medical assistance program. The bill provides that the payment of crime victim compensation program reimbursements is category “A” restitution. The bill directs HHS to develop a plan in consultation with nonprofit service providers who provide restoration services to victims of human trafficking to increase the availability of restoration facilities and protective services available to juvenile victims of human trafficking, including juvenile victims who are not, at the time of victimization, either a child in need of assistance or otherwise involved in the juvenile court system. HHS shall consider developing a network with other states to provide housing outside of the state for victims at risk of returning to the person involved in the victim’s trafficking. A report detailing the plan shall be presented to the governor and the general assembly by December 15, 2025. The bill appropriates from the general fund of the state to the office of the attorney general for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026, $750,000 to be used for the purpose of creating a joint unit involving the attorney general’s office, and the Iowa office to combat human trafficking within the division of intelligence and fusion center of the department of public safety, for the purpose of investigating and prosecuting human trafficking cases, collecting and analyzing human trafficking data, evaluating the effectiveness of state-funded initiatives to combat human trafficking, and working with state agencies to report data on human trafficking investigations and prosecutions.