Let’s thank our legislators for passing and funding significant anti-trafficking legislation this session!

Let’s offer our thanks and appreciation to the members of the joint conference committee who supported the anti-trafficking sections of SF510 this year: Senators Bill Dix, Jack Whitver, Pam Jochum, Robert Dvorsky and Mike Gronstal; and Representatives Kraig Paulsen, Linda Upmeyer, Chris Hall, Chuck Soderberg, and Kirsten Running-Marquardt. Senators Sharon Steckman and Kevin Kinney, Representative Marti Anderson, and many others have also provided tremendous support for this effort.

Here is a summary of SF510, Division XXIII, on Human Trafficking:

  • Human trafficking is now a forcible felony in Iowa, wherein convicted traffickers must serve a minimum of 70% of their maximum sentence prior to eligibility for parole/probation.
  • The Crime Victim Assistance Division of the Department of Justice, in cooperation with other governmental and NGO agencies, shall develop and conduct outreach, public awareness, and training programs for the general public, law enforcement agencies, and potential victims.
  • The Crime Victim Assistance Division may use up to $300,000 annually from the victim compensation fund for training requirements including, outreach, public awareness, and training programs related to human trafficking.
  • A Human Trafficking Enforcement Fund is established in the Department of Justice. Money from the mortgage settlement fund (currently valued at $726,000) shall be transferred into this fund. The money will be used for training local law enforcement, members of the state patrol, county attorneys, judicial officers, juvenile court officers and public safety answer point personnel about recognizing and reporting incidents of human trafficking. Any money remaining in the fund as of June 30, 2020 shall be transferred to the general fund.

Please copy and paste the email list below into your email browser to send a personal note of thanks! Click here to read the press release which describes all that was accomplished this session. If you don’t have time to send a personal email, please use the following:

Thanks so much for supporting and funding legislation to combat human trafficking this session. I appreciate your efforts to ensure that the public is educated about this issue, and that all of our law enforcement and service providers receive the necessary training to effectively respond. Your efforts will make a significant contribution towards ending human trafficking in Iowa, saving the lives of young people who are victimized by this crime, and prosecuting those who profit from modern day slavery.

“Senator Bill Dix” <Bill.Dix@legis.iowa.gov>, “SenatorJack Whitver” <Jack.Whitver@legis.iowa.gov>, “Senator Pam Jochum” <Pam.Jochum@legis.iowa.gov>, “Senator Robert Dvorsky” <Robert.Dvorsky@@legis.iowa.gov>, “Senator Mike Gronstal” <Mike.Gronstal@legis.iowa.gov>, “Representative Kraig Paulsen” <Kraig.Paulsen@legis.iowa.gov>, “Representative Linda Upmeyer” <Linda.Upmeyer@legis.iowa.gov>, “Representative Chris Hall” <Chris.Hall@legis.iowa.gov>, “Representative Chuck Soderberg” <Chuck.Soderberg@@legis.iowa.gov>, “Representative Kirsten Running-Marquardt” , “Senator Sharon Steckman” <Sharon.Steckman@@legis.iowa.gov>, “Senator Kevin Kinney” <Kevin.Kinney@legis.iowa.gov>, “Representative Marti Anderson” <Marti.Anderson@legis.iowa.gov>

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