2019 Mississippi Code
Title 97 - Crimes
Chapter 3 - Crimes Against the Person
§ 97-3-54.9. Statewide Human Trafficking Coordinator; duties
(1) There is created the position of statewide human trafficking coordinator within the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation of the Department of Public Safety office. The duties of the coordinator shall be as follows:
(a) Coordinate the implementation of this act;
(b) Evaluate state efforts to combat human trafficking;
(c) Collect data on human trafficking activity within the state on an ongoing basis, including types of activities reported, efforts to combat human trafficking, and impact on victims and on the state;
(d) Exclude from publicly released portions of the data collected under subsection (1)(c) the identity of any victim and the victim’s family;
(e) Promote public awareness about human trafficking, remedies and services for victims, and national hotline information;
(f) Create and maintain a website to publicize the coordinator’s work;
(g) Submit to the Legislature an annual report of its evaluation under subsection (1)(b) and any other annual report required by law, including any recommendations, and summary of data collected under subsection (1)(c) and any other data otherwise required by law to be collected by the coordinator;
(h) Develop and implement rules and regulations pertaining to the use of the Relief for Victims of Human Trafficking Fund to support services for victims of human trafficking in Mississippi;
(i) Assist in the creation and operations of local human trafficking task forces or working groups around the state, including serving on a task force or a multidisciplinary child protection team;
(j) Conduct other activities, including, but not limited to, applying for grants to enhance investigation and prosecution of trafficking offenses or to improve victim services to combat human trafficking within this state which are appropriate; and
(k) Perform any other duties specifically required by law for the coordinator.
(2) The coordinator shall be authorized to seek input and assistance from state agencies, nongovernmental agencies, service providers and other individuals in the performance of the foregoing duties.
(3) Each state agency, board and commission shall be required to fully cooperate with the coordinator in the performance of the duties of that position.
(4) Every investigation of an offense under this chapter shall be reported to the coordinator by the initiating law enforcement agency pursuant to guidelines established by the coordinator.
(5) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 43-21-261, disclosure by any state agency, nongovernmental agency, service provider or local or state law enforcement agency of nonidentifying information regarding a minor victim to the coordinator for the purposes of evaluating and collecting data regarding trafficking offenses in the state is specifically authorized.
