S 2241119th CongressIn Committee

Enhancing Detection of Human Trafficking Act

Introduced: Jul 10, 2025

Sponsor: Sen. Husted, Jon [R-OH] (R-Ohio)

Civil Rights & Justice

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

The Enhancing Detection of Human Trafficking Act would require the Secretary of Labor to create and implement a training program for select Department of Labor (DOL) employees to help them detect human trafficking and assist law enforcement in preventing it. The program must be in place within 180 days of enactment and include ongoing education, tailored to the employees’ duties and the local context (including states with notable issues around oppressive child labor). Training topics would cover identifying potential trafficking indicators, referring cases to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and other authorities, and collaborating with victim advocacy groups while respecting privacy laws. The act also requires annual reporting to Congress on training outcomes and on trafficking cases referred to DOJ or other authorities, along with how the DoL tracks responses by other agencies. Overall, the bill aims to strengthen DoL’s role in spotting trafficking in the course of regular work and ensuring referrals to appropriate authorities.

Key Points

1Training mandate for DoL personnel: Within 180 days of enactment, the Secretary of Labor must implement a program to train and provide ongoing education to DoL employees determined to need it based on their official duties, with special consideration for Wage and Hour Division staff in states facing increased oppressive child labor.
2Training content and delivery: Training may be in-person or virtual and must be tailored to the specific location and professional environment. It should cover current trends and best practices, provide up-to-date information on trafficking detection relevant to duties, teach methods to identify potential victims and suspects, and outline clear referral procedures to DOJ and other authorities, including coordination with victim advocacy groups and respect for victims’ rights and privacy.
3Evaluation requirement: The training program must include an evaluation of its effectiveness after completion.
4Reporting to Congress: Annually (starting one year after the program’s first implementation), the DoL must report to Congress on the prior year’s training, its overall effectiveness, completion numbers, and the number of trafficking-related cases referred to DOJ/other authorities, plus the processes used to track how those referrals are handled by the receiving agencies.
5Definition reference: The bill uses the existing definition of human trafficking from the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected: DoL employees selected to receive training (notably Wage and Hour Division staff), and the DoL’s internal processes for detecting and referring trafficking cases.Secondary group/area affected: Law enforcement (DOJ and other authorities) and state/local officials who may receive referrals; victim advocacy organizations that assist trafficking victims.Additional impacts: States with significant oppressive child labor may see greater training emphasis; increased coordination between DoL, DOJ, and victim advocacy groups; potential changes in reporting and measurement practices for trafficking referrals and responses, all while complying with privacy laws. Training costs and administrative oversight are likely to rise to support implementation and annual reporting.

Generated by gpt-5-nano on Oct 7, 2025