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 alcoholism and substance abuse services; (8) the director of the office of victim services; (9) the executive director of the office for the prevention of domestic violence; and (10) the superintendent of the division of state police; 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 and under circumstances as are appropriate to fulfilling its duties under this section. (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; and (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. (c) One year from the effective date of this section, or earlier if deemed appropriate, the task force shall report to the governor and the legislature on these issues, and it shall thereafter issue such reports and recommendations as it deems necessary to carry out its duties and responsibilities. * NB Repealed September 1, 2011