TAKE ACTION against Human Trafficking in PA

PA highway signage is inadequate!

Support PA House Bill 1513 

“An act providing for the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline Notification Act, imposing duties on the Department of Labor and Industry, and prescribing penalties.” 

Please contact PA Representative Jim Cox and ask him to work to hold hearings on House Bill 1513. On May 29, 2019, this bill was referred to the Department of Labor and Industry.  The bill was introduced by Representative Robert Merski and co-sponsored by Representatives Ryan Bizzarro and Pat Harkins, the Democratic Committee Chair of Labor and Industry.

The Bill provides for changes in signage at highway rest stops in PA. The current signage is located only in the rest stop lobbies and does not include information on what and how human trafficking occurs. According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, in 2018 there were 268 human trafficking victims identified in Pennsylvania. Victims are often transported from one city to another on the nation’s highways and “sold” multiple times at various locations. 

 In addition to communicating a hotline number, signs need to be designed in a manner that will readily assist a person in identifying themselves as a victim. Secondarily, signage needs to educate the general public who can aid in this fight by knowing what to look for and report.

In addition to lobby signage, it is critical that improved signage be placed in restroom stalls at rest stops, which is often the ONLY place a victim would have to see it. Signs in stalls above sinks or hand dryers will save lives.

Please encourage Representative Cox to hold hearings on this life-saving legislation.

Letters of support for PA HB 1513 should be sent to Rep. Cox at 209 Ryan Office Building, Harrisburg, PA 17120-2129.  Sample letter below.

Read the bill.

thumbnail of Letter to Rep. Cox

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