Committee advances bill to add human-trafficking training for retail ABC licensees

The House Committee on Public Safety voted 6-0 to report House Bill 2033, which would direct the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority to add a Department of Criminal Justice Services training to its website for retail ABC licensees and their employees.

The measure, presented to the committee by Delegate Simons, would make a DCJS online course that is already offered to hotel employees, casino workers and private security guards available to bartenders, convenience store workers and other retail ABC-license employees.

"Human trafficking is a multi $1,000,000,000 criminal industry that denies freedom to millions of victims worldwide," Delegate Simons said. "With our major ports, bases, highways and tourist areas, Virginia is a prime target for traffickers. So we must continue to make sure all citizens are aware of the problem and know how to respond."

Supporters told the committee the course could expand the number of workers who recognize and report suspected trafficking. The bill does not create new criminal penalties; it directs the ABC authority to host or provide the course on its website.

The committee clerk recorded a 6-to-0 roll call to report the bill. Under committee rules, reporting the bill sends it forward for further consideration in the House.

If advanced, the committee staff and sponsoring delegate said the next step would be consideration by the full House and any subsequent committee assignments.