At a reorganization meeting of the Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee, members voted unanimously to approve House Bill 277, a change to civil venue rules for human-trafficking claims.

Committee legal counsel David Vitaly described the proposal as a change to Section 3051 of Title 18 that makes venue for civil causes of action involving human trafficking the same whether the suit is filed where the victim lives or where the alleged violations occurred. Vitaly said there were no amendments to the bill at the committee meeting.

The change is intended to give victims the option of filing a civil lawsuit either in the county where they reside or in the county where the alleged trafficking took place. The committee recorded no negative votes and referred the bill to the speaker.

Minority Chair Rob Kaufman thanked the committee and noted the timing: "it is Human Trafficking Awareness Month in January," he said. The committee chair moved the bill; Representative Kincaid seconded the motion, and the secretary recorded the committee's unanimous approval and the referral to the speaker.

The action was procedural: the committee approved sending the bill forward for further consideration by House leadership. The committee did not adopt any amendments during the meeting.

Votes at a glance: House Bill 277 — Motion to refer to the Speaker; mover: Chair (committee chair); second: Representative Kincaid; outcome: approved (unanimous voice vote, no negative votes recorded); amendments: none; next step: referral to the Speaker of the House.

Because the committee action was a referral, not final passage by the full House, further committee or floor action is required before the bill would become law.