HARRISBURG, April 12, 2010 – State Sen. Daylin Leach (D-Delaware/Montgomery) announced today that he will host a press conference about proposed human trafficking legislation in Harrisburg on Tuesday, April 13. Leach will be joined by fellow lawmakers and antihuman trafficking advocacy organizations and regional coalitions, including Polaris Project and the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh Coalitions, during the press conference which coincides with the Pennsylvania Lobby Day to End Human Trafficking.
Leach is the prime sponsor of Senate Bill 1227 which would create guidelines for posting the Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline number in Pennsylvania establishments. Under the bill, the hotline number must be placed prominently in key establishments to provide resources and information to victims and citizens in places of transit or where victims are being forced to work. Additionally, Senator Stewart Greenleaf and Representative Katie True have introduced SR 253/HR630, which create a state-wide advisory committee on human trafficking, comprised of key personnel, organizations and agencies including law enforcement, prosecutors and victim service providers who will create a comprehensive plan to address human trafficking within the next two years.
According to Polaris Project, the NHTRC Hotline is funded primarily through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and is operated by the non-profit organization. Call specialists field calls 24 hours a day/7 days a week, in over 150 languages, and are able to provide an immediate response to urgent calls and tips by connecting callers to one of over 3,000 local referral organizations. The hotline allows people to report a tip, connect with anti-trafficking services in a given area, request training and technical assistance, and receive general information.
| WHAT: |
Human Trafficking Press Conference |
| WHEN: | Tuesday, April 13 11 a.m. |
| WHERE: | Main Rotunda Capitol Building |
| WHO: | Senator Daylin Leach, Senator Stewart Greenleaf, Representative Katie True, Hugh Organ (Philadelphia Anti-Human Trafficking Coalition), and Jamie Evanoski (Southwestern Pennsylvania Anti-Human Trafficking Coalition). |
Media attendance is encouraged.
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