BISMARCK — The North Dakota Legislature is looking for more ways to educate the public about detecting human trafficking and child abuse through a bill that would strengthen the Human Trafficking Commission.
Human trafficking is an umbrella term used to describe a crime in which a person or group of people manipulate, mentally or physically, another person to provide labor, commercial sex acts or other involuntary services.
House Bill 1308 would make the Human Trafficking Commission a bigger stand-alone entity and with more responsibilities, largely aiming to expand related education opportunities available to a variety of people — from law enforcement officers to state employees. Similar education would be provided to sixth- and tenth-graders.
While introducing the bill to the Senate on Friday, Sen. Josh Boschee, D-Fargo, pointed to Ray Holmberg, the former state senator who pleaded guilty to engaging in child sex abuse abroad during some of his 45 years in office. Holmberg represented parts of Grand Forks County from 1977 to 2022.
"Many of us have had to reflect, over the past several years, on our own interactions with a former colleague (Holmberg)," he said. "While we can't change the past, we know we must do more; be more proactive and vigilant going forward."
Since Jan. 1, a total of 74 people have been arrested for "attempting to take advantage of children," Boschee added.
According to the bill, the commission must consist of two lawmakers, one from each party, and representatives from the Department of Health and Human Services, school districts rural and urban, the state's attorneys' association and the governor's office.
The seven-member group would additionally be tasked with providing each branch of the government an annual report on human trafficking using regional data.
After the Senate unanimously approved the bill on Friday, it will now go back to the House for a second approval before arriving at the governor's desk.
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