Section 210.1505

Title XII PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE

Chapter 210

Effective - 28 Aug 2022   

  210.1505.  Statewide council on sex trafficking and sexual exploitation of children created — members, duties, report — expiration date. — 1.  There is hereby created the "Statewide Council on Sex Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation of Children" to consist of the following members:

  (1)  The following four members of the general assembly:

  (a)  Two members of the senate, with one member to be appointed by the president pro tempore of the senate and one member to be appointed by the minority floor leader of the senate; and

  (b)  Two members of the house of representatives, with one member to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and one member to be appointed by the minority floor leader of the house of representatives;

  (2)  The director of the children's division or his or her designee;

  (3)  The director of the department of public safety or his or her designee;

  (4)  The director of the department of mental health or his or her designee;

  (5)  The director of the office of prosecution services or his or her designee;

  (6)  The superintendent of the Missouri state highway patrol or his or her designee;

  (7)  The executive director of the statewide network of child advocacy organizations specializing in the prevention of child abuse or neglect or his or her designee;

  (8)  The executive director of the statewide coalition against domestic and sexual violence or his or her designee;

  (9)  The executive director of the Missouri Juvenile Justice Association or his or her designee;

  (10)  The director of the attorney general's human trafficking task force or his or her designee;

  (11)  Two representatives from agencies providing services to victims of child sex trafficking and sexual exploitation who reflect the geographic diversity of the state and who shall be appointed by the director of the department of social services; and

  (12)  A member of the judiciary, who shall be appointed by the supreme court.

  2.  A majority of the members of the council shall constitute a quorum.  The council shall hold its first meeting within thirty days after the council's creation and organize by selecting a chair and a vice chair.  The council shall meet at the call of the chair.

  3.  The council shall:

  (1)  Collect and analyze data relating to sex trafficking and sexual exploitation of children, including the number of reports made to the children's division under section 210.115, any information obtained from phone calls to the national sex trafficking hotline, the number of reports made to law enforcement, arrests, prosecution rates, and any other data important for any recommendations of the council.  State departments and council members shall provide relevant data as requested by the council to fulfill the council's duties; and

  (2)  Collect feedback from stakeholders, practitioners, and leadership throughout the state in order to develop best practices and procedures regarding the response to sex trafficking and sexual exploitation of children, including identification and assessment of victims; response and treatment coordination and collaboration across systems; trauma-informed, culturally competent victim-centered services; training for professionals in all systems; and investigating and prosecuting perpetrators.

  4.  The department of social services shall provide administrative support to the council.

  5.  On or before December 31, 2023, the council shall submit a report of the council's activities to the governor and general assembly and the joint committee on child abuse and neglect under section 21.771.  The report shall include recommendations for priority needs and actions, including statutory or regulatory changes relating to the response to sex trafficking and sexual exploitation of children and services for child victims.

  ^*6.  The council shall expire on December 31, 2023.

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(L. 2022 S.B. 775, et al.)

*Council expires 12-31-23