SAN ANTONIO – The human trafficking bill that unanimously passed the Texas House on Tuesday is on its way to the Senate. If adopted, HB 10 introduced by State Rep. Senfronia Thompson of Houston, could become law in September.
One of its key provisions would lift the current statute of limitations, which is five years to report the crime of compelling prostitution of children under age 18.
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Miriam Elizondo, co-executive director of the Rape Crisis Center, said often human trafficking victims are so young, they don't understand it is a crime against them.
"They don't even know the definition of human trafficking, and so when you ask them if they've been trafficked, they have no idea what that is," Elizondo said.
She said many victims are hesitant to speak out against their trafficker, who grooms them to have sex for money.
Elizondo said, "The last part of that grooming process is to reinforce, ‘You've already done this. People are going to look at you differently. You're not the same.'"
But as time passes, Elizondo said they finally realize the cruel reality of forced labor or services, including prostitution, that comes with human trafficking.
If the bill becomes law in September, Elizondo said victims will be able to say, "This happened to me. That's what it's called. Now I can report this. It's not too late."
She said the legislation is an outgrowth of the Attorney General's Human Trafficking Prevention Task Force report issued last year.
Elizondo said the statute of limitations already had been lifted for sexual assault victims.
She said, "I think it will take more and more traffickers and pimps and perpetrators off the street if we continue to lift those statutes of limitations."
According to the Bexar County District Attorney's Office, the bill also targets johns who knowingly solicit minors for sex, believe they are minors, or if they have been told they are minors.
The legislation would make that a second-degree felony with a penalty of two to 20 years in prison, and they would have to register as sex offenders.
For a link to human trafficking resources click here.