N.Y. Social Services Law § 483-ee: Establishment of interagency task force on human trafficking

* § 483-ee. Establishment of interagency task force on human

trafficking. (a) There is established an interagency task force on

trafficking in persons, which shall consist of the following members or

their designees: (1) the commissioner of the division of criminal

justice services; (2) the commissioner of the office of temporary and

disability assistance; (3) the commissioner of health; (4) the

commissioner of the office of mental health; (5) the commissioner of

labor; (6) the commissioner of the office of children and family

services; (7) the commissioner of the office of addiction services and

supports; (8) the director of the office of victim services; (9) the

executive director of the office for the prevention of domestic

violence; (10) the superintendent of the division of state police; (11)

the secretary of state; (12) the commissioner of the department of

transportation; (13) the commissioner of the department of motor

vehicles; (14) the executive director of the New York state thruway

authority; and the following additional members, who shall be promptly

appointed by the governor, each for a term of two years, provided that

such person's membership shall continue after such two year term until a

successor is appointed and provided, further, that a member may be

reappointed if again recommended in the manner specified in this

subdivision: (15) two members, who shall be appointed on the

recommendation of the temporary president of the senate; (16) two

members, who shall be appointed on the recommendation of the speaker of

the assembly; (17) two members, who shall be appointed on the

recommendation of the not-for-profit organization in New York state that

receives the largest share of funds, appropriated by and through the

state budget, for providing services to victims of human trafficking, as

shall be identified annually in writing by the director of the budget;

and (18) one member, who shall be appointed on the recommendation of the

president of the New York state bar association; and others as may be

necessary to carry out the duties and responsibilities under this

section. The task force will be co-chaired by the commissioners of the

division of criminal justice services and the office of temporary and

disability assistance, or their designees. It shall meet as often as is

necessary, but no less than three times per year, and under

circumstances as are appropriate to fulfilling its duties under this

section. All members shall be provided with written notice reasonably in

advance of each meeting with date, time and location of such meeting.

(b) The task force shall: (1) collect and organize data on the nature

and extent of trafficking in persons in the state; (2) identify

available federal, state and local programs that provide services to

victims of trafficking, including but not limited to case management,

housing, health care, mental health counseling, drug addiction screening

and treatment, language interpretation and translation services, English

language instruction, job training and placement assistance,

post-employment services for job retention, and services to assist the

individual and any of his or her family members to establish a permanent

residence in New York state or the United States; (3) consult with

governmental and non-governmental organizations in developing

recommendations to strengthen state and local efforts to prevent

trafficking, protect and assist victims of trafficking and prosecute

traffickers; (4) establish interagency protocols and collaboration

between federal, state, and local law enforcement, state and

governmental agencies, child welfare agencies, and non-governmental

organizations; (5) evaluate approaches to increase public awareness

about trafficking and make recommendations on such approaches; (6)

evaluate the effectiveness of training programs on human trafficking

that have been designed for law enforcement personnel, criminal defense

attorneys, social service providers and non-governmental organizations,

and make recommendations for improving the quality and effectiveness of

such programs; (7) measure and evaluate the progress of the state in

preventing trafficking, protecting and providing assistance to victims

of trafficking, and prosecuting persons engaged in trafficking; (8)

evaluate the use of social media in and its contribution to human

trafficking; and (9) convene any subcommittee necessary, provided such

subcommittee has at least one of the members appointed by the speaker of

the assembly, temporary president of the senate or governor, to consider

specific issues, including, but not limited to: federal, state and/or

local cooperation; juveniles and human trafficking; the importance of

training and who should receive such training; how data is compiled and

shared; and services for and treatment of domestic versus foreign born

victims.

(c) The task force shall report to the governor, the speaker of the

assembly, the minority leader of the assembly, the temporary president

of the senate and the minority leader of the senate no less than

annually, and it shall additionally issue such reports and

recommendations as it deems necessary to carry out its duties and

responsibilities.

* NB Repealed September 1, 2027