SB 44

                                                 PRINTER'S NO.   1076
                THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
                   SENATE BILL
                   No. 44
                                           Session of
                                             2025
INTRODUCED BY DUSH, PENNYCUICK, PHILLIPS-HILL AND ROTHMAN,
   JULY 23, 2025
REFERRED TO JUDICIARY, JULY 23, 2025
                                AN ACT
1 Amending Titles 18 (Crimes and Offenses) and 75 (Vehicles) of
2    the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in human trafficking,
3    further providing for definitions and providing for victim
4    determination statement and for State Human Trafficking
5    Resource Coordinator; and, in licensing of drivers, providing
6    for restoration of operating privilege for victims of human
7    trafficking.
8    The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
9 hereby enacts as follows:
10    Section 1.    Section 3001 of Title 18 of the Pennsylvania
11 Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding definitions to read:
12 § 3001.   Definitions.
13    The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
14 shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
15 context clearly indicates otherwise:
16    "Authorized entity."     An entity granted the authority by the
17 commission or the coordinator to determine if an individual is a
18 victim of human trafficking and issue victim determination
19 statements on behalf of victims under section 3027 (relating to
20 victim determination statement). The term includes, but is not
1 limited to, the following:
2(1)   An attorney employed by a nonprofit legal aid
3    association or society or a county bar organization that
4    provides legal aid for victims of human trafficking in civil
5    matters.
6(2)   A nongovernmental organization or member of a human
7    trafficking task force, including victim service providers
8    affiliated with the organization or task force.
9(3)   A nonprofit organization which principally serves
10    victims of human trafficking.
11    * * *
12    "Coordinator."     The entity contracted by the commission to
13 act as the State Human Trafficking Resources Coordinator under
14 section 3032 (relating to State Human Trafficking Resource
15 Coordinator).
16    * * *
17    "Governmental entity."     Any branch, subdivision or agency of:
18(1)   The Federal Government.
19(2)   The Commonwealth.
20(3)   A political subdivision.
21(4)   A municipal or local authority.
22    * * *
23    "Victim determination statement."        A statement issued under
24 section 3027.
25    * * *
26    Section 2.     Title 18 is amended by adding a section to read:
27 § 3027.    Victim determination statement.
28    (a)    Authorization.--A court of competent jurisdiction,
29 governmental entity or an authorized entity may issue a victim
30 determination statement to an individual on a form developed by
20250SB0044PN1076  - 2 -
1 the commission or coordinator that makes a determination that
2 the individual is a victim of human trafficking. If a victim
3 determination statement is issued to a victim of human
4 trafficking, the completed form shall be filed with the Office
5 of Victim Advocate.
6    (b)    Contents.--A victim determination statement issued under
7 subsection (a) shall contain the following:
8(1)   The period during which the individual was a victim
9    of human trafficking or, if the individual is currently a
10    victim of human trafficking, the approximate date the
11    individual became a victim of human trafficking.
12(2)   Any offense committed or citation issued that is a
13    result of the individual's status as a victim of human
14    trafficking.
15    Section 3.      Section 3032 of Title 18 is amended to read:
16 § 3032.    [(Reserved).] State Human Trafficking Resource
17Coordinator.
18    Subject to the availability of funds, the commission shall
19 award a grant to a nonprofit organization to serve as the State
20 Human Trafficking Resource Coordinator. The purpose of the
21 coordinator shall be to:
22(1)   Assist this Commonwealth in meeting the goals of the
23    grant program established under section 3031 (relating to
24    grants).
25(2)   Provide aid and coordinate resources across this
26    Commonwealth.
27(3)   Assist in the identification of victims, as provided
28    for under section 3027 (relating to victim determination
29    statement).
30    Section 4.      Title 75 is amended by adding a section to read:
20250SB0044PN1076  - 3 -
1 § 1559.    Restoration of operating privilege for victims of human
2trafficking.
3    (a)    Petition.--An individual who has been issued a victim
4 determination statement under 18 Pa.C.S. § 3027 (relating to
5 victim determination statement) or an entity acting on behalf of
6 an individual who has been issued a victim determination
7 statement, may file a petition, on a form prescribed by the
8 department to the department, for relief from a suspension or
9 revocation that the petitioner alleges was received as a direct
10 result of being a victim of human trafficking. The petition
11 shall include:
12(1)   The victim determination statement.
13(2)   The offense allegedly committed or citation issued
14    to the petitioner as a direct result of being a victim of
15    human trafficking.
16    (b)    Determination.--
17(1)   If the victim determination statement demonstrates
18    that the individual was a victim of human trafficking at the
19    time that the individual's operating privilege was suspended
20    or revoked and the department does not believe the individual
21    poses a risk to traffic safety, the department shall restore
22    the individual's operating privilege.
23(2)   If the department declines to restore an
24    individual's operating privilege because the department
25    believes that the individual poses a risk to traffic safety,
26    the department may require the individual to complete a
27    driver improvement course and, upon completion of the driver
28    improvement course, restore the individual's operating
29    privilege.
30    (c)    Access to information.--For a suspension or revocation
20250SB0044PN1076  - 4 -
1 initiated by the department under section 6322 (relating to
2 reports by issuing authorities) or 6323 (relating to reports by
3 courts) or other agency or subdivision of this Commonwealth, the
4 department may request relevant documents, including dockets,
5 records, certifications by arresting officers, pleading and
6 other papers, that the department requires to make a
7 determination under subsection (b).
8    (d)   Response to request.--Upon request for documentation
9 from the department, a court or other agency of this
10 Commonwealth shall provide documentation to the department,
11 unless the sharing of the document is in violation of Federal or
12 State law.
13    Section 5.   This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20250SB0044PN1076  - 5 -