Georgia’s commitment to fight human trafficking has already been getting attention nationwide, and the state continues to add tools to the toolbox. A bill introduced on behalf of Governor Brian Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp to combat human trafficking across the state sailed through the Senate late last week by a 48-0 margin. HB 823, sponsored by Representative Houston Gaines (R-Athens), had already cleared the House by a unanimous vote in March before lawmakers went into recess because of the COVID-19 outbreak. However, it now has to go back to the House for final approval after Senators made a few changes in the original version.
This bill is one of three legislative measures from this session that are intended to end human trafficking in Georgia. Gov. Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp, along with members of the GRACE Commission, announced these initiatives during a press conference at the start of the 2020 Legislative Session. The other two pieces of legislation would create multiple pathways specifically for survivors of human trafficking to restrict access to their criminal records, and would close loopholes in the sex offender registry and the improper sexual contact code.
“Through House Bill 823, our state will continue to make great strides in protecting survivors and victims of human trafficking while punishing perpetrators,” said Rep. Gaines. “With 3,600 children sold for sex in our state every year, we must strengthen our laws and support survivors. I was honored to carry this legislation on behalf of those who are working to end human trafficking in our state, and I will continue to fight this horrific industry through efforts like HB 823.”
House Bill 823 would impose a lifetime commercial driver’s license ban in Georgia for those who have been convicted of a human trafficking crime and would allow the Georgia Department of Driver’s Services to revoke a person’s commercial driver’s license (CDL) issued in the state. The legislation would also permanently disqualify them from driving a commercial motor vehicle if convicted of trafficking an individual for labor servitude or sexual servitude and used a commercial motor vehicle to commit the offense.
According to Gaines, this legislation would work in accordance with a federal regulation enacted last summer, reflecting a change made by the U.S. Congress in the “No Human Trafficking on Our Roads Act.”
First Lady Marty Kemp took to Facebook to express her appreciation of the bill passage.
“I’m excited to announce that House Bill 823 passed by a Senate vote of 48-0. Many thanks to Representative Houston Gaines, Senator John Albers, and their co-sponsors!”
Gov. Kemp and First Lady Kemp have made the fight against human trafficking a priority since the Governor took office. Earlier this year, Gov. Kemp and First Lady Kemp rolled out a human trafficking awareness training program. At that time, Kemp said he would be requiring everyone on the Governor’s staff to participate in the training and encouraged all other state agency heads to do the same with their employees.
