DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - While the Obama Administration establishes national efforts to expand research and increase awareness on child sexual exploitation, lawmakers in Iowa are taking action to crack down on sex trafficking involving minors across the state.
Legislation on the topic has won unanimous support in both chambers. Most recently, a measure that Rep. Greg Heartsill, R-Melcher-Dallas, has called a “hybrid” of House and Senate versions overwhelmingly passed Wednesday in the House, 97-0.
“I think we all can agree that confronting this despicable industry of human trafficking, particularly the sexual exploitation of minors, is an issue that does not belong to one party or the other,” Heartsill said during Wednesday’s debate. “It’s something that we dare not ignore.”
Still, Democratic lawmakers have expressed concern that certain changes to the legislation take away from making the victim the No. 1 priority.
Roxann Ryan, an attorney with the Iowa Department of Public Safety, said it’s difficult to pinpoint just how prevalent human trafficking is statewide. She also said many cases aren’t tried as human trafficking cases, and not every instance of prostitution or pimping is classified as human trafficking.
Regardless, lawmakers have said they intend to take action to protect victims.
“If it affects one person in Iowa, it’s a big issue, and I’m confident, I’m sure it affects more than one person,” Rep. Todd Prichard, D-Charles City, said Wednesday.
The bill would increase the penalty for pimping involving a minor from a class “D’’ felony to a class “C’’ felony. Instead of punishing children for involvement in prostitution, county attorneys would be granted the option of referring a minor they suspect has been forced into prostitution to Iowa’s Department of Human Services as a child in need of assistance.
Currently, all instances of prostitution are punishable as aggravated misdemeanors, regardless of age or involuntary involvement. The bill would remove offenses from the records of anyone previously convicted of prostitution as a minor.
And, in an effort to be proactive, the legislation would allow the Attorney General to intercept electronic communication as it deals with human trafficking.
Lawmakers agree that toughening penalties is crucial to combat human trafficking across the state, and removing minors from penalties could ensure that they are not again victimized. But many believe more can be done.
The “hybrid” bill removes language from the Senate’s version that would require the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy to include data about training, staffing and investigative efforts dealing with human trafficking in an annual report.
“That’s something we should have left in from the Senate bill,” Rep. Sharon Steckman, D-Mason City, said Wednesday. “The awareness needs to be out there.”
Heartsill said a reporting requirement would be redundant, as the Attorney General’s office already collects such data.
Another change eliminates a fund meant for prosecutor and law enforcement training as well as support programs for human trafficking victims.
“If we’re going to be vigilant in doing this, not only do we need to be tough on the criminals, we need to make sure that we are making sure our girls are getting the best care possible,” Rep. Phyllis Thede, D-Bettendorf, said Wednesday.
Neighboring states have taken such steps to address human trafficking. Ryan said a task force assembled in Omaha, Neb., has handled quite a few cases of human trafficking. And Breaking Free, a Minnesota-based nonprofit organization, helps women and girls escape prostitution and sexual exploitation and offers educational and housing support.
But Heartsill said the Senate’s way to establish this fund was “an accounting nightmare.” With a general victim fund already in place, Heartsill said human trafficking victims could benefit from this money instead.
And Molly Jansen, general law enforcement instructor at the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy, said basic training already includes a one-hour classroom session on human trafficking. This session covers key indicators of human trafficking and understanding a victim’s mindset, among other topics. Jansen also said there are additional opportunities for certified officers, such as forums sponsored by advocacy groups.
Sen. Robert Dvorsky, D-Coralville, who sponsored the original Senate version, said providing specific services to victims and guaranteeing training is consistent with the goal of avoiding the revictimization of those forced into human trafficking, and removing these provisions goes against that.
Both Dvorsky and Heartsill said they’re willing to continue work on the legislation.
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