Subcommittee backs technical change renaming trafficking coordinator at DCJS in HB 1734

The Courts of Justice Subcommittee on Criminal Law voted 8–0 to report HB 1734, a technical amendment that changes the statutory title of the trafficking response coordinator to the human trafficking response coordinator within the Department of Criminal Justice Services.

Sponsor Delegate Delaney described the bill as “a pretty technical fix that aligns with what we're seeing in practice,” explaining that recent statutory changes to define criminal labor trafficking make the updated title necessary so DCJS can continue to provide training on labor trafficking for law enforcement, prosecutors and victim services. “This bill updates the title … to align with current practice at DCJS,” Delaney said.

Tracy Jenkins of the Department of Criminal Justice Services testified in support of the bill. There was no testimony in opposition and no fiscal impacts were reported. After brief questions and no additional discussion, the subcommittee moved, seconded and recorded a unanimous recommendation to report HB 1734.

The subcommittee’s vote sends the technical title change forward for consideration by the full committee and later legislative stages.