Bill Overview
Title: Stopping Traffickers and Their Accomplices Act of 2022
Description: This bill requires an abortion provider to notify the National Human Trafficking Hotline if the provider has a reasonable suspicion that the patient is a victim of trafficking. It also requires each abortion provider to complete annual training on how to identify and respond appropriately to individuals who are at risk of or who have experienced trafficking. The bill establishes penalties for violations.
Sponsors: Rep. Budd, Ted [R-NC-13]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals who are victims of human trafficking
Estimated Size: 5000000
- There are approximately 40 million victims of human trafficking worldwide according to the International Labour Organization.
- In the United States, it is estimated that hundreds of thousands of people are currently trafficked.
- The bill targets individuals who might be involved in or victims of human trafficking, specifically those seeking abortion services.
- Abortion service providers are key points of contact with potential trafficking victims, thus they have a role in identifying and reporting suspicions of trafficking.
- There are an estimated 1,500 abortion providers in the United States who will need to comply with the training requirements.
- The global impact extends to awareness and procedural changes in jurisdictions adopting similar practices.
Reasoning
- The policy specifically aims to address human trafficking victims by utilizing abortion providers as a point of intervention.
- Training about identification and appropriate responses to trafficking increases the likelihood that victims will be identified and cared for, potentially increasing well-being scores.
- Financial constraints mean that the policy impacts will be focused, and some training costs could be covered by reallocating certain resources within existing programs.
- Abortion services might see changes in operational procedures, affecting service delivery, which could affect various stakeholders differently – providers themselves potentially benefit through additional training, although it might increase their workload without appropriate funding.
- Trafficked individuals identified through these means might see a significant impact on their well-being if they can escape their situations.
Simulated Interviews
Abortion Clinic Nurse (New York City, NY)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The training will definitely help us notice signs we might not have before.
- I think it's good that we're part of the solution, but I worry about additional workload with limited staff.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Human Trafficking Survivor Advocate (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This bill is promising as it potentially offers a lifeline to victims.
- I'm concerned that not all staff will take the training seriously.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Abortion Provider (Houston, TX)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While I agree with the principle, the additional regulation means more expenses with limited reimbursement.
- There is always fear of inadvertently violating some part of this law.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Public Health Researcher (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This initiative could lead to critical data that informs future public health policies.
- It's a positive step towards integrated health responses to trafficking.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Victim Services Coordinator (Miami, FL)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This law can empower us in ways previous policies haven't.
- I hope it brings more to their attention about the systemic issues in trafficking.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 6 |
College Student (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 22 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 1.5 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it's important but might not know what to do if faced with a trafficking situation myself.
- I'm glad there’s more safety measures being enacted.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Abortion Rights Activist (Chicago, IL)
Age: 36 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's critical to ensure these policies don't divert from the access to needed health services.
- Trafficking is an important issue that needs more focused legislative attention.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Legal Expert on Health Regulations (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The legal intricacies of implementation could be burdensome if not managed correctly.
- Overall, it's beneficial for public health if executed as planned.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Social Work Graduate Student (Seattle, WA)
Age: 24 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Training healthcare providers to recognize trafficking signs is a step forward.
- I'm hopeful this leads to broader systemic changes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Public Policy Analyst (Detroit, MI)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It provides an opportunity for really impactful interventions, but must be done carefully to optimize resources.
- Skeptical about budget allocation efficiency.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $2000000 (Low: $1500000, High: $2500000)
Year 2: $2000000 (Low: $1500000, High: $2500000)
Year 3: $2000000 (Low: $1500000, High: $2500000)
Year 5: $2000000 (Low: $1500000, High: $2500000)
Year 10: $2000000 (Low: $1500000, High: $2500000)
Year 100: $2000000 (Low: $1500000, High: $2500000)
Key Considerations
- Potential for reducing trafficking through early detection and intervention by trained healthcare providers.
- The scalability of businesses involved in training or awareness programs might increase, potentially spurring related sectoral growth.
- Aligning health policy with trauma-informed care practices is critical to the policy's success.