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KS Governor and AG Propose Human Trafficking Bill

Gov. Sam Brownback and Attorney General Derek Schmidt have proposed a bill that would strengthen the state's human trafficking statues, with an emphasis on protecting children from sexual exploitation. 

The bill they'll submit to the state legislature establishes a Human Trafficking Victim Assistance Fund to support trafficking survivors. Mandatory fines on people convicted of human trafficking and related sex crimes will pay for the fund. The bill also provides for special procedures for children who have been subjected to human trafficking.

A new crime of "Commercial Sexual Exploitation of a Child" is created in the bill, increasing the penalties of patronizing a prostitute and encouraging prostitution of people under the age of 18.  In developing the proposed legislation, the Governor and Attorney General sought input from law enforcement agencies, social service providers and key stakeholders. The bill will be introduced in the Senate Judiciary Committee next week. 

When she's not out making lattes in her mobile coffee bus Sunflower Espresso, Kate Hutchens is a fill-in host for KMUW. She has worked in broadcast journalism at KFDI, Oregon Public Broadcasting, and at KMUW as Morning Edition host, which she did until March 2017.