Section 620.029 - [Effective 7/15/2024] Duties of cabinet relating to children who are victims of human trafficking(1) In order to provide the most effective treatment for children who are victims of human trafficking, as defined in KRS 529.010, and to ensure that law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies have the resources and tools necessary to combat human trafficking, the cabinet shall: (a) Investigate a report alleging a child is a victim of human trafficking pursuant to KRS 620.030(3);(b) Provide or ensure the provision of appropriate treatment, housing, and services consistent with the status of the child as a victim of human trafficking; and(c) Proceed in the case in accordance with applicable statutes governing cases involving dependency, neglect, or abuse regardless of whether the person believed to have caused the human trafficking of the child is a parent, guardian, or person exercising custodial control or supervision.(2) In order to effectuate the requirements of this section, the cabinet shall: (a) Consult with agencies serving victims of human trafficking to promulgate administrative regulations for the treatment of children who are reported to be victims of human trafficking as dependent, neglected, or abused children, including providing for appropriate screening, assessment, treatment, services, temporary and long-term placement of these children, training of staff, the designation of specific staff, and collaboration with service providers and law enforcement;(b) By November 1 of each year, submit to the Legislative Research Commission a comprehensive report detailing: 1. The number of reports the cabinet has received regarding child victims of human trafficking; 2. The number of reports in which the cabinet has investigated and determined that a child is the victim of human trafficking; and3. The number of cases in which services were provided; and (c)1. Beginning in 2025, in addition to the information required under paragraph (b) of this subsection, include in its annual report to the Legislative Research Commission for referral to the Interim Joint Committee on Families and Children and the Interim Joint Committee on Judiciary to the extent possible: a. Information related to state enforcement of human trafficking involving children in the Commonwealth, including the number of: i. Arrests as compiled by the Kentucky State Police; and ii. Criminal charges and convictions, delineated by county or district, as compiled by the Administrative Office of the Courts; b. The frequency at which services were made available to child victims of human trafficking; c. Recommendations for improving data collection so that information may be obtained and analyzed in a larger percentage of cases; d. Recommendations for improving data sharing among service providers, nongovernmental organizations, and government agencies; and e. Any other information that may assist in understanding the causation of human trafficking of children in Kentucky and stakeholders' abilities to provide services to victims. 2. If, after making reasonably diligent efforts to obtain the information described in subparagraph 1. of this paragraph, the cabinet is unable to obtain any of the information, the cabinet may submit an annual report omitting that information, but shall provide an explanation for the omission in the annual report.Amended by 2024 Ky. Acts ch. TBD,§ 4, eff. 7/15/2024.Added by 2013 Ky. Acts ch. 25,§ 1, eff. 6/24/2013.This section is set out more than once due to postponed, multiple, or conflicting amendments.