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State Rep. Nicole La Ha, R-Homer Glen, has unveiled a package of
bills, including one that would remove the statute of
limitations for prosecuting crimes involving human trafficking.
Another measure would prohibit a person patronizing a minor into
prostitution from claiming they did not know a person was a
minor as a defense.
“Exploitation thrives in the shadows, and it’s our jobs as
legislators to shine a light,” said La Ha. “Human trafficking
happens in all of our communities with Illinois ranking among
the top ten nationwide in trafficking cases.”
The measures follow a package of bills recently proposed by the
Illinois Senate. La Ha said she is excited to work with
lawmakers from the other chamber on this issue.
“We have been talking about this for a couple years now, so I
think there is absolutely room for us to come together as a
General Assembly and I look forward to that,” said La Ha.
State Rep. Dennis Tipsword, R-Metamore, a Woodford County
Sheriff’s Deputy, said it is important to work with law
enforcement in the fight to end human trafficking, which for him
means holding criminals accountable and protecting some of the
state’s youngest and most vulnerable residents.
“The crimes involved with human trafficking cases represent some
of the most sensitive and troubling I’ve seen in my career,”
said Tipsword.
Tipsword highlighted an incident near his district earlier this
year, when the Illinois State Police arrested six men for human
trafficking crimes in Bloomington. These crimes included
commercial sex acts, solicitation to meet a child and grooming.
The ISP Trafficking Enforcement Bureau conducted seven human
trafficking demand suppression operations last year, resulting
in over 30 arrests and 90 criminal charges.
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