First lady Marty Kemp unveils new anti-human trafficking legislation, initiatives
ATLANTA - First lady Marty Kemp and the Office of the Governor introduced a new bill on Thursday aimed at strengthening Georgia's fight against human trafficking.
Senate Bill 42, the 10th piece of legislation backed by Kemp on this issue, seeks to close a legal loophole that could allow traffickers to receive lighter sentences under the state's rule of lenity.
What we know
Under current Georgia law, crimes related to human trafficking involving minors overlap with existing offenses such as keeping a place of prostitution, pimping, and pandering. This overlap allows traffickers to potentially receive more lenient sentences. SB 42 aims to eliminate this possibility, ensuring traffickers face full legal consequences.
The announcement comes as part of Human Trafficking Prevention and Awareness Month, observed each January. Alongside SB 42, First Lady Kemp introduced several new initiatives to strengthen awareness and equip Georgians with tools to combat trafficking.
What's next
First Lady Kemp, in partnership with the Department of Administrative Services (DOAS), has launched an updated human trafficking awareness training for state employees. This enhanced resource incorporates recent developments in survivor support and law enforcement efforts. The training is available to all state agencies and will be accessible to the public on YouTube.
What Else Is Being Done
In collaboration with the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) and the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC), First Lady Kemp also released a new public service announcement (PSA) to be displayed at Georgia's ports. With thousands of trucks passing through the state's port facilities each day, the PSA aims to educate drivers about recognizing and reporting trafficking activity.
These initiatives build upon Georgia's ongoing efforts to combat human trafficking, which began with the establishment of the GRACE Commission (Georgians for Refuge, Action, Compassion, and Education). The commission's work has included awareness campaigns, law enforcement training, and victim support programs.
Additionally, the first lady and leaders of the Georgia General Assembly and Attorney General Chris Carr created a first-of-its-kind statewide Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit in 2019. Since then, they have secured 54 convictions, led or assisted more than 330 case investigations, and rescued and assisted nearly 200 children.
What you can do
First Lady Kemp encouraged all Georgians to participate in awareness efforts and report suspected trafficking incidents.
If you suspect human trafficking, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll free at (888) 373-7888.
To report suspected human trafficking in Georgia, call the Statewide 24-Hour Human Trafficking Hotline at (866) 363-4842.
If you have reason to believe that a victim is in imminent danger, call 911 or your local law enforcement agency to file a report.
For more information on how to get help for both national and foreign-born victims of human trafficking, visit www.endhtga.org.
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