DeKalb Times

Legislation proposed by State Representative Jeff Keicher (R-Sycamore) and endorsed in the Senate by State Senator Erica Harriss (R-Glen Carbon) to aid underage victims of human trafficking has unanimously passed the State Senate. House Bill 5465, which previously received unanimous approval in the House, is now awaiting the Governor's signature.

The bill aims to facilitate a smoother recovery process for child victims of trafficking by simplifying the procedure for expunging or sealing their juvenile records related to any criminal activities they were coerced into during their exploitation.

"Victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation, especially children, represent our most vulnerable, and we need to do everything we can to help them through their recovery process," Keicher stated. He further emphasized that one of the initial steps towards recovery is ensuring that their past does not haunt them, a goal that HB 5465 strives to achieve.

Keicher's commitment to improving support for abuse victims stems from personal experience, as he lost a family member who was abused as a child due to insufficient resources for victim recovery.

Sen. Harriss, who guided the legislation through the Senate, remarked, "As a governing body, we have a duty to protect our children and pass legislation to help keep them safe. We must create pathways for victim-survivors of human trafficking as they seek to recover from trauma endured to pursue the most normal life possible."

Following unanimous approval in both chambers, Keicher and Harriss are optimistic about HB 5465 being signed into law by the Governor.

Both legislators underscored the importance of raising awareness about human trafficking and urged members of the media and public to report any suspected instances via the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888.

Rep. Keicher represents the 70th District encompassing parts of DeKalb, Kane, and McHenry Counties while Senator Harriss serves the 56th District, which includes parts of Madison and St. Clair counties.

For more information about HB 5465, click here.