Sec. 01.01.2018.19. Statewide Human Trafficking Response Director

A. Director.

1. There is a Statewide Human Trafficking Response Director (the “Director”) at the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention (the “Office”).

2. The Director shall:

a. Serve as the Governor’s coordinator for human trafficking issues and provide information and policy guidance to the Governor, the Governor’s Cabinet, and the executive director of the Office;

b. Collaborate with State units, local governments and departments of social services, child advocacy centers and other nonprofit entities, law enforcement agencies, and other appropriate parties identified by the Director to:

1) Promote statewide coordination of:

a) Supportive services and resources for victims of human trafficking;

b) Law enforcement responses to human trafficking;

2) Collect, maintain, and disseminate to stakeholders information about human trafficking and related supportive services in Maryland;

3) Map current local supportive services and resources that provide care to victims of human trafficking; and

4) Establish statewide best practices for serving victims of human trafficking;

c. Monitor and pursue, on behalf of the State, federal funding for efforts to combat human trafficking;

d. Serve as the Governor’s liaison to the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force; and

e. Serve as the Governor’s liaison to the Crime Research and Innovation Center at the University of Maryland to assist its efforts to provide research to the State about human trafficking, including best practices in collecting data to identify victims of human trafficking.

B. By December 1 of each year, the Director shall provide to the Governor a report on the status of the Director’s work including:

1. Progress made in establishing statewide best practices for serving victims of human trafficking;

2. A summary of State and federal funding available to serve and support victims of human trafficking;

3. An update on the work of the Crime Research and Innovation Center at the University of Maryland related to human trafficking; and

4. Recommendations for administrative, regulatory, or statutory changes that would further the State’s efforts to address human trafficking.

C. The Office shall dedicate a portion of its funding to serve victims of human trafficking.

Effective date: August 9, 2018