Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Jimmy Deal Trafficking Survivors Assistance Act of 2023”.
Jimmy Deal Trafficking Survivors Assistance Act of 2023
A BILL
To assist trafficking survivors who lack government issued identification in accessing air travel, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Definitions
In this Act:
Administration— The term Administration means the Transportation Security Administration.
Administrator— The term Administrator means the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration.
Airport— The term airport has the meaning given the term air carrier airport in section 47102 of title 49, United States Code.
Human trafficking— The term human trafficking has the meaning given the term “severe forms of trafficking in persons” in section 103 of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7102).
Responsible party— The term responsible party means an individual who is eligible under the policies of the relevant airline to pick up a minor at the destination airport.
Service provider— The term service provider means a non-profit organization that provides services to individuals who are victims of human trafficking, including—
emergency services, such as shelter, food, clothing, and transportation;
case management or wrap-around services;
mental health care or other medical services; and
legal services.
TSPoC— The term TSPoC means a Trafficking Survivor Point of Contact designated under section 3.
Sec. 3 Establishment of process to assist trafficking survivors with air travel
In general— Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration shall at each airport where the Administration conducts screening of passengers and property in accordance with section 44901 of title 49, United States Code—
establish the position of Trafficking Survivor Point of Contact; and
designate as TSPoC an individual who—
is an employee of the Administration; and
holds the position of passenger support specialist within the Administration.
Duties— A TSPoC shall—
liaise and establish relationships with service providers; and
upon a request made via TSA Cares or direct contact by a service provider that is eligible to receive assistance under section 4, provide air travel assistance as described in section 4.
Training—
In general— Not later than 30 days after the designation of a TSPoC under subsection (a), such TSPoC shall review training materials on human trafficking, trauma-informed approaches to working with survivors of sexual assault or violence, and post traumatic stress disorder made available by the Department of Homeland Security, including any such training materials made available on a website of the Department.
Prior training— The review of training materials required by paragraph (1) shall be in addition to any prior training provided by the Administration.
Online information— Not later than 30 days after the designation of a TSPoC under subsection (a), the airport at which such TSPoC is stationed shall publish on a publicly available website of the airport—
the contact information of the TSPoC;
information on the services provided by the TPSoC; and
the processes for engaging such services, including information about TSA Cares.
Sec. 4 Air travel assistance for survivors of human trafficking
Identification assistance— At the request of any service provider that is eligible to receive assistance under this section and is arranging air travel for an individual who is a survivor of human trafficking who does not have the identification documents necessary for air travel, a TPSoC shall—
provide to such service provider information regarding the process by which the Administration will attempt to verify the identity of such individual when the individual arrives at the screening checkpoint;
assist the service provider or the individual with the submission of a formal request for travel assistance via TSA Cares; and
act as a liaison between the National Vetting Center, other personnel of the Administration involved in the vetting process, and the individual to ensure that the individual—
understands the vetting process; and
is treated in a trauma-informed manner.
Eligible non-Profit service providers— A service provider shall be eligible to receive assistance under this section, if such service provider has provided to the TSPoC—
not fewer than 30 days prior to submitting a request for assistance under this section, information with respect to such service provider, including—
the name of the service provider;
the physical address of the main office or principal place of business of the service provider;
the telephone number of the service provider;
the website, if available, of the service provider; and
the employer identification number of the service provider; and
confirmation that the service provider—
is actively assisting an individual who the service provider, in the professional judgment of the service provider, has reasonably determined to be a survivor of human trafficking;
has assessed the travel needs of the individual;
has or will purchase an airline ticket for the individual, if necessary;
has arranged for a family member of the individual, a representative of a service provider, or another individual to meet the individual at the destination airport;
with respect to any minor receiving assistance from such service provider, is aware of and will comply with all relevant airline policies regarding travel for unaccompanied minors, including by—
paying any fees required by such airline; and
ensuring that a responsible party greets the minor at the arrival gate of the destination airport; and
will assist the individual in providing to the National Vetting Service any available information or documentation necessary to verify the identify of the individual.
Travel procedures—
Arrangements prior to departure— If the Administrator permits an individual who is a survivor of human trafficking to travel by air—
the TSPoC shall contact the TSPoC at the destination of the individual to arrange for such individual to be greeted by the TSPoC, or a designee, at the destination airport; and
on the date of the departing flight of the individual, the TSPoC, or a designee, shall accompany the individual—
through all security screenings at the airport; and
at the request of the individual, to the departure gate of the flight.
Arrival at destination airport— Upon the arrival at the destination airport of an individual whose travel was arranged under paragraph (1), the TSPoC, or a designee, at such airport shall meet the individual at the arrival gate and accompany the individual to a representative from a service provider in the receiving community, a family member of the individual, or such other individual designated by the applicable service provider.