34 USC 20705a - Enhancing the ability of State, local, and Tribal child welfare agencies to identify and respond to children who are, or are at risk of being, victims of trafficking

U.S Code last checked for updates: Apr 25, 2025

§ 20705a.

Enhancing the ability of State, local, and Tribal child welfare agencies to identify and respond to children who are, or are at risk of being, victims of trafficking

(a)

Grants to enhance child welfare services

The Secretary of Health and Human Services may make grants to eligible States to develop, improve, or expand programs that assist State, local, or Tribal child welfare agencies with identifying and responding to—

(1)

children considered victims of “child abuse and neglect” and of “sexual abuse” under the application of section 5106g(b)(1) of title 42 because of being identified as being a victim or at risk of being a victim of a severe form of trafficking in persons; and

(2)

children over whom such agencies have responsibility for placement, care, or supervision and for whom there is reasonable cause to believe are, or are at risk of being a victim of 1 or more severe forms of trafficking in persons.

(b)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

Child

(2)

Eligible State

The term “eligible State” means a State that has not received more than 3 grants under this section and meets 1 or more of the following criteria:

(A)

Elimination of third party control requirement

(B)

Application of standard for human trafficking

(C)

Development and implementation of State child welfare plan protocols

The State agency responsible for administering the State plan for foster care and adoption assistance under part E of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 670 et seq.) has developed and is implementing or will develop and implement protocols that meet the following reporting requirements:

(i)

The requirement to report immediately, and in no case later than 24 hours after receiving, information on children who have been identified as being a victim of a severe form of trafficking in persons to law enforcement authorities under paragraph (34)(A) of section 471(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 671(a)).

(ii)

The requirement to report immediately, and in no case later than 24 hours after receiving, information on missing or abducted children to law enforcement authorities, including children classified as “runaways”, for entry into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, under paragraph (35)(B) of such section [

(iii)

The requirement to report to the Secretary of Health and Human Services the total number of children who are victims of child human trafficking under paragraph (34)(B) of such section [42 U.S.C. 671(a)(34)(B)].

(D)

Trafficking-specific protocol

(3)

Indian tribe; tribal organization

(4)

State

(Pub. L. 109–164, title II, § 204A, as added Pub. L. 117–347, title I, § 104(a)(1), Jan. 5, 2023, 136 Stat. 6201.)

cite as: 34 USC 20705a