The New York State Assembly has joined the state Senate in approving a new law to combat human trafficking and protect victims. The bill, called the Trafficking Victims Protection and Justice Act (TVPJA), would increase criminal penalties for persons convicted of sex or labor trafficking. Perpetrators who buy sex from children under the age of 17 would also face harsher criminal penalties. The TVPJA will allow victims to sue their traffickers in civil court for damages and would require training for law enforcement in detecting and combating human trafficking. The Governor of the state of New York has said he will sign the bill into law.
Compiled from: Blain, Glenn, State lawmakers approve bill to toughen penalties on human trafficking, New York Daily News (March 16, 2015); Hamilton, Matthew, New York Assembly passes anti-human trafficking bills, Albany Times Union (March 16, 2015).