SB 706

            
2020 SESSION

20105034D

SENATE BILL NO. 706


Offered January 8, 2020


Prefiled January 7, 2020

A BILL to amend and reenact � 63.2-1506.1 of the Code of 
 Virginia, relating to human trafficking assessments by local departments.
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Patrons-- Obenshain; Delegate: LaRock

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Referred to Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services

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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
 
 
1. That � 63.2-1506.1 of the Code of Virginia is amended and 
 reenacted as follows:
 
 
� 63.2-1506.1. Human trafficking assessments by local 
 departments.
 
 
A. If a report or complaint is based upon information and 
 allegations that a child is a victim of sex trafficking or severe forms of 
 trafficking as defined in the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 
 2000 (22 U.S.C. � 7102 et seq.) and in the federal Justice for Victims of 
 Trafficking Act of 2015 (P.L. 114-22), the local department shall conduct a sex 
 human trafficking assessment, unless at any time during the sex 
 human trafficking assessment the local department 
 determines that an investigation or family assessment is required pursuant to � 
 63.2-1505 or 63.2-1506.
 
 
B. A sex human trafficking assessment 
 requires the collection of information necessary to determine:
 
 
1. The immediate safety needs of the child;
 
 
2. The protective and rehabilitative services needs of the 
 child and the childs family that will deter abuse and neglect; and
 
 
3. Risk of future harm to the child.
 
 
C. When a local department responds to the report or complaint 
 by conducting a sex human trafficking assessment, 
 the local department may:
 
 
1. Consult with the family to arrange for necessary protective 
 and rehabilitative services to be provided to the child and the childs family;
 
 
2. Petition the court for services deemed necessary; or
 
 
3. Commence an immediate investigation or family assessment, 
 if at any time during the sex human trafficking assessment 
 the local department determines that an investigation or family assessment is 
 required pursuant to � 63.2-1505 or 63.2-1506.
 
 
D. In the event that the parents or guardians of the child 
 reside in a jurisdiction other than that in which the report or complaint was 
 received, the local department that received the report or complaint and the 
 local department where the child resides with his parents or guardians shall 
 work jointly to complete the sex human trafficking assessment.
 
 
E. Reports or complaints for which a 
 sex human 
 trafficking assessment is completed shall not be entered into the central 
 registry contained in � 63.2-1515.
 
 
F. The local department or departments shall notify the Child 
 Protective Services Unit within the Department in writing whenever such a sex 
 human trafficking assessment is conducted.
 
 
G. When 
 conducting a human trafficking assessment pursuant to this section, 
 the local department may interview 
 the alleged child victim or 
 his siblings without the consent and 
 outside the presence of such childs or siblings parent, 
 guardian, legal custodian, or other person standing in loco parentis, or school 
 personnel.