OLYMPIA — Gov. Chris Gregoire has signed into law bills aimed at strengthening the state’s 8-year-old human trafficking law and providing housing for trafficking victims.
One of the two measures signed Monday expands the criminal definition of human trafficking to add forced labor, involuntary servitude, commercial sexual abuse of a minor and criminal sex acts, as well as illegal harvesting or sale of human organs.
The second bill authorizes the use of money from two existing state accounts to house victims of human trafficking and their families.
The Affordable Housing for All and the Homeless Housing and Assistance accounts are funded by surcharge fees for certain documents recorded by the county auditor.
Both bills received unanimous approval in the Legislature.
In 2003, Washington became the first state in the country to pass a law criminalizing human trafficking.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
