Amends TCA Title 9, Chapter 4, Part 2; Section 39-13-314 and Title 39, Chapter 11, Part 7.

This bill establishes the victims of human trafficking fund in the state treasury to provide comprehensive treatment and support services to victims of human trafficking. Treatment and services to victims of human trafficking include medical care, mental health and substance abuse care, nutritional counseling, safe housing, job training, transportation, and other basic human needs. The department of finance and administration's office of criminal justice programs will distribute moneys in the fund in the form of grants to the single point of entry agencies in this state recognized by the Tennessee bureau of investigation and department of children's services.<br /> <br /> The fund will consist of proceeds from assets seized through criminal forfeiture, grants, appropriations by the general assembly, and federal funds. Moneys in the fund must be invested by the state treasurer and are prohibited from reverting to the general fund.<br /> <br /> A "human trafficking offense" means the commission of any act that constitutes the criminal offense of:<br /> <br /> (1) Involuntary labor servitude;<br /> (2) Trafficking persons for forced labor or services;<br /> (3) Trafficking for commercial sex act; or<br /> (4) Promoting the prostitution of a minor.<br /> <br /> ON APRIL 1, 2019, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 447, AS AMENDED.<br /> <br /> AMENDMENT #1 authorizes the commissioner of finance and administration to promulgate rules to ensure that the funds are received and expended for the purposes consistent with this bill. This amendment also specifies that the funds will be used for "specialized" comprehensive treatment, and revises the agencies to which funds will be distributed from "single point of entry agencies in this state recognized by the TBI and the department of children's services" to "agencies that provide specialized comprehensive treatment and support services for victims of human trafficking" with the intent that the priority for funding be directed to the single point of contract agencies in this state recognized by the TBI and the department.<br /> <br /> ON APRIL 22, 2019, THE HOUSE SUBSTITUTED SENATE BILL 447 FOR HOUSE BILL 397, ADOPTED AMENDMENT #2, AND PASSED SENATE BILL 447, AS AMENDED.<br /> <br /> AMENDMENT #2 deletes the provision of this bill that includes in the human trafficking fund proceeds from assets seized through criminal forfeiture.<br /> <br />