Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Ensuring a Better Response for Victims of Child Sex Trafficking ”.
Ensuring a Better Response for Victims of Child Sex Trafficking
A BILL
To amend the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to enable State child protective services systems to improve the identification and assessment of child victims of sex trafficking, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 CAPTA amendments
In general— The amendments to the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5101 et seq.) made by this section shall take effect no later than the date that is 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.
State plans— Section 106 of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5106a) is amended—
in subsection (b)(2)(B)—
in clause (xxii), by striking “and” at the end; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(xxiv) provisions and procedures requiring identification and assessment of all reports involving children known or suspected to be victims of sex trafficking (as defined in section 103(10) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7102 (10))); and
“(xxv) provisions and procedures for training child protective services workers about identifying, assessing, and providing comprehensive services for children who are sex trafficking victims, including efforts to coordinate with State law enforcement, juvenile justice, and social service agencies such as runaway and homeless youth shelters to serve this population;”
in subsection (d), by adding at the end the following:
“(17) The number of children determined to be victims described in subsection (b)(2)(B)(xxiv).”
Special rule—
In general— Section 111 of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5106g) is amended—
by striking “For purposes” and inserting the following:
“(a) Definitions—For purposes”
by adding at the end the following:
“(b) Special rule
“(1) In general—For purposes of section 3(2) and subsection (a)(4), a child shall be considered a victim of “child abuse and neglect” and of “sexual abuse” if the child is identified, by a State or local agency employee of the State or locality involved, as being a victim of sex trafficking (as defined in paragraph (10) of section 103 of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7102)) or a victim of severe forms of trafficking in persons described in paragraph (9)(A) of that section.
“(2) State option—Notwithstanding the definition of “child” in section 3(1), a State may elect to define that term for purposes of the application of paragraph (1) to section 3(2) and subsection (a)(4) as a person who has not attained the age of 24.”
Conforming amendment— Section 3(2) of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5101 note) is amended by inserting “(including sexual abuse as determined under section 111)” after “sexual abuse or exploitation”.
Technical correction— Paragraph (5)(C) of subsection (a), as so designated, of section 111 of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5106g) is amended by striking “inhumane;” and inserting “inhumane.”.