John's Bill Protecting Human Trafficking Victims Approved by General Assembly

State Rep. Marilyn John (R-Richland County) announces that House Bill 390 was approved by the General Assembly through the criminal justice reform package that passed this week.

The amendment of John’s legislation to the criminal justice bill requires governmental evidence-retention entities to secure and test sexual assault examination kits in relation to an investigation or prosecution of trafficking in persons.

“Our goal is to stress to our law enforcement partners and our communities that Ohio is dedicated to fighting this crime,” said John. “We want to ensure that human trafficking victims are able to receive the proper care, justice, and attention that they deserve and desperately need.”

Currently, sexual assault examination kits (SAE kits) are not required to be tested when it comes to the investigation or evidence that human trafficking has occurred. Therefore, oftentimes the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCI) does not test the SAE kits within the realm of human trafficking. However, SAE kits are required to be tested for the following crimes: murder, voluntary or involuntary manslaughter, rape (completed or attempted), vehicular homicide or manslaughter, sexual battery and gross sexual imposition.

The legislation it was added to, Senate Bill 288, now heads to the governor’s desk for consideration.