On Wednesday, First Lady Marty Kemp announced a new law from the Office of the Governor aimed at fighting human trafficking in Georgia. This is the 10th piece of legislation focused on stopping traffickers and buyers, making Georgia safer for victims. The new bill, SB 42, closes a legal loophole that allowed traffickers to receive lesser sentences due to an overlap in laws concerning minors. This resulted from the principle of lenity, which means courts might apply the less severe sentence when the law is unclear.

First Lady Kemp emphasized Georgia’s leadership in combating human trafficking and stated that the new legislation will strengthen penalties for offenders and provide better justice for victims. To mark Human Trafficking Prevention and Awareness Month in January, Kemp also announced efforts to educate residents about human trafficking and how to report it.

As part of these efforts, Kemp, along with the Department of Administrative Services (DOAS), released updated training on human trafficking awareness for state employees. This training includes new information about support for survivors and assists law enforcement in tackling the problem. The training will be available to all state agencies and will also be accessible to the public on YouTube.

Rebecca Sullivan, DOAS Commissioner, highlighted the importance of state employees in recognizing and reporting human trafficking signs to prevent this crime. The training will offer statistics and real stories to help empower individuals to act confidently when they notice signs of trafficking.

After the GRACE Commission’s initial meetings, raising awareness about human trafficking was identified as crucial for addressing the problem. This led to the creation of a 30-minute training video that outlines sex trafficking, recognizes key signs, and advises on what steps to take if trafficking is suspected.

Additionally, First Lady Kemp, along with the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) and the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC), launched a public service announcement that will be shown at state ports. This PSA aims to inform truck drivers about how they can help in the fight against sex trafficking while on the roads in Georgia. GPA’s CEO Griff Lynch and CJCC’s Executive Director Jay Neal expressed their commitment to educating transportation professionals on this issue to better identify victims and provide them with necessary resources for recovery.