Rep. Bartlett applauds General Assembly’s dedication to studying human trafficking in Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS – State Rep. John L. Bartlett (D-Indianapolis) today applauded the Legislative Council for accepting his proposal that the General Assembly study the issue of human trafficking in Indiana during the 2021 Interim.

After House Bill 1200 failed to pass during the 2021 Legislative Session, Bartlett expressed his disappointment at the overall lack of action taken by the General Assembly to address human trafficking. In response, Bartlett sent a letter to the Legislative Council urging them to assign human trafficking as a topic to be studied over the 2021 Interim, citing his own legislation, House Bill 1018, as an outline.

According to the resolution passed by the Legislative Council today, the Interim Study Committee on Corrections and Criminal Code will study the prevention of human trafficking, the detection, apprehension and prosecution of individuals engaged in human trafficking and the provision of recovery services to individuals who have been the victims of human trafficking.

“I am grateful that the Legislative Council has finally dedicated the General Assembly's time and resources to studying human trafficking and its consequences,” Bartlett said.

“Human trafficking has been allowed to grow and thrive in Indiana because the General Assembly has failed to give it the attention it deserves. Now, we have the chance to really look at how it happens and how it affects Hoosiers. I am hopeful that the committee's findings will drive home the prevalence of this issue and the pressing need to enact real legislative change, so that bills like HB 1200 actually receive the support necessary to be passed into law.”