Enhancing Detection of Human Trafficking Act

This bill would require the U.S. Department of Labor to train certain employees to spot human trafficking during their regular work and to help get cases to the right authorities. The training can be in person or online, tailored to local conditions, and must cover how to identify possible victims and traffickers, share up-to-date information, and outline clear steps to refer cases to the Department of Justice and other authorities. It also calls for working with victim advocates and state and local officials, while respecting privacy laws .

The Department must launch the program within 180 days if the bill becomes law. Special attention is given to Wage and Hour Division staff, especially in states seeing a rise in oppressive child labor. The Department must report each year on how many people were trained, how effective the training was, and how many cases were sent to law enforcement, including how those cases were tracked. “Human trafficking” uses the definition from existing federal law .

Key points

• Who is affected: Selected Department of Labor employees, including Wage and Hour Division staff in states with rising child labor problems .
• What changes: New training and continuing education to detect trafficking, identify victims and suspects, and refer cases to the right authorities; includes collaboration with advocacy groups and officials .
• How delivered: In-person or virtual training, tailored to local needs and updated best practices; trainees evaluate the training after completion .
• When: Program must start within 180 days of the law taking effect; annual reports are required after the program begins .
• Oversight: Yearly reports must include the number trained, training effectiveness, number of cases referred, and how responses from authorities were measured and tracked .