Drafter

Clerk 07/25/2018

Title

A MOTION calling on the King County executive to support efforts to combat human trafficking through the funding and implementation of labor trafficking training and funding of procurement practices recommended in the report.

Body

                     WHEREAS, human trafficking has been found to be prevalent in many sectors, it is a hidden crime and identification of victims is difficult, thus contributing to complications and challenges to identify and assist victims and survivors, and

                     WHEREAS,  trafficking is defined by the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, as the "recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purposes of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery,"  and

                     WHEREAS, King County should prioritize funding and intervention for human trafficking survivors to provide victims and survivors an opportunity to recover and achieve their full potential, and

                     WHEREAS, the needs of human trafficking victims and survivors include case management, emergency shelter and long term housing, cash and food assistance, employment and job readiness and  placement, education, legal and physical and mental health services, and

                     WHEREAS, the most significant need for victims and survivors tends to be housing support, usually for three to five years, and

                     WHEREAS, the immigration status can be one of the greatest challenges in providing services to human trafficking victims and survivors, and

                     WHEREAS, many human trafficking victims and survivors are foreign nationals who have entered the United States and have either overstayed their temporary visa or are undocumented, and who are not legally authorized to work in the United States, and

WHEREAS, until the human trafficking victims and survivors receive a T visa or other form of legal status, they are not eligible to receive assistance through state and federal programs, and

WHEREAS, as a leader in the effort to end human trafficking, King County established a commercially sexually exploited children task force, to “help ensure the safety of young people who are survivors of commercial sexual exploitation," and

                     WHEREAS, there have been extensive studies to assess the issue of human sex trafficking in Washington State, and there has been a concerted effort on behalf of King County to address the local issue of sex trafficking and domestic sexual exploitation,  the issues of human labor trafficking and exploitation have not been addressed to the same degree, and

                     WHEREAS, the 2017 King County Labor Trafficking Report, required by the 2017-2018 Biennial Budget Ordinance, Ordinance 18409, Section 20, Proviso P1, made recommendations emphasizing the need for training for county employees who frequently interact with the public, such as law enforcement officers and building and restaurant inspectors, and establishment of procurement policies to influence the labor practices of contractors and subcontractors, and

                     WHEREAS, the report recommended providing training for frontline King County employees who may come into contact with potential victims and survivors of labor trafficking so that employees are able to recognize trafficking signs and indications and know how to report suspected labor trafficking, and

                     WHEREAS, the 2017 King County Labor Trafficking Report recommended providing funding to existing service providers to augment funding and services and direct assistance to labor trafficking victims and survivors, without limiting eligibility based on immigration status, as resources become available, and

                     WHEREAS, law enforcement officers, and other frontline employees of government agencies, such as, to list a few, inspectors, health care workers and parks employees, tend to lack adequate information and training to identify or appropriately serve labor trafficking victims and survivors, and

                     WHEREAS, King County is in a position to influence labor practices of contractors and subcontractors, using business practices and processes to reduce the risk of labor trafficking in the following ways:

                       1.  Use applicable laws to develop and declare the company’s policy to prevent labor trafficking, and to prominently display same policy on its website and in its offices;

                       2.  Publically and internally commit to apply the policy throughout the supply chain, and ensure that it is included in proposals, business contracts, purchasing orders and related documents;

                       3.  Ensure the company publically and internally commits to a remedy for those adversely affected by labor trafficking within the company's operations or supply chain; and

                       4.  Expand the county's procurement policy to require contractors to practice due diligence to reduce the risk of trafficking.  Due diligence may include the display of antitrafficking posters and training staff to identify and prevent trafficking.

                     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT MOVED by the Council of King County:

                     A.  The executive is requested to fund and implement training for King County employees who frequently interact with members of the public and may encounter individuals who are victims or survivors of trafficking, such as employees in the sheriff's office, public health department, and department of natural resources and parks.  The labor trafficking training program should include, but not be limited to, the following:

                       1.  Trafficking signs and indications, in the event that the employee may be in a position to recognize and report suspected labor trafficking;                     

                       2.  Clear and concise information and procedures for reporting suspected labor trafficking to appropriate personnel;

                       3.  Curriculum that is based on the employee's contact with possible labor trafficking victims and survivors.  Employees required by law to report trafficking situations, do so within the guidelines as provided.  Service providers should provide assistance on survivor safety, stability and survivor-defined goals for future success, whereas those in park and other field-related positions, will need training that is focused on how to recognize, identify, and report suspected human trafficking; and

                       4.  Training and resources for employees working with trafficking victims and survivors that, incorporates victim-centered, trauma-informed approach.

                     B.  The executive is requested to develop procurement policies to reduce the risk of labor trafficking within the county's operations and supply chain, including suppliers, service providers, contractors and subcontractors, and implementing best practices and applicable laws.  In addition, the Executive is requested to develop a schedule and budget for the implementation of the new policies.

                     C.  The executive is requested to transmit to the council by October 1, 2018, a report describing the executive’s plan for the implementation of the training described in section A of this motion, in the form of a paper original and an electronic copy with the clerk of the council, who shall retain the original and provide an electronic copy to all

councilmembers, and any legislation necessary to implement the procurement policies described in section B. of this motion.