Prince George’s County has become the first county in the U.S. to pass groundbreaking legislation combatting human trafficking.
County Executive Angela Alsobrooks announced this week that the County has taken steps toward combatting sex and labor trafficking with the passage of CB-023-2024, legislation that prohibits County contractors and subcontractors from engaging in sex and labor trafficking.
The County is the first jurisdiction in the country to pass such a measure.
“We are committed to championing legislation that not only combats human trafficking and protects vulnerable residents but also holds people accountable for their actions,” says Alsobrooks. “Becoming the first County in the nation to pass this groundbreaking legislation is a major step in our efforts to combat human trafficking and one that we hope sets the precedent for other jurisdictions across the country to follow. Our residents must feel safe in their communities, which is why we must do our part as a County Government to address this issue.”
The new law states that contractors and subcontractors who are found to be involved in sex and labor trafficking will be subject to meaningful penalties, including disbarment, suspension, contract termination and breach of contract damages.
The legislation was developed by the Prince George’s County Human Trafficking Task Force Chair and Director of the Office of Human Rights, Renee Battle-Brooks in conjunction with Prince George’s County Human Trafficking Task Force Labor Trafficking Committee, the University of Maryland SAFE Center for Human Trafficking Survivors, and with the pro bono support of the law firm, Steptoe LLP.
“Eradicating human trafficking requires all of us working together,” says Renée Battle-Brooks, Executive Director of the Office of Human Rights. “This legislation is a great first step in ensuring that business partners of the County Government work affirmatively to ensure that they are not part of the human trafficking chain, even if inadvertently. We are excited about the positive impact this will make in the fight against human trafficking.”
