The topics of human trafficking and anti-bullying have grabbed headlines recently and Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-37) is involved in both those issues with legislation. She told NJ Today Managing Editor Mike Schneider that she hopes legislation can be put in place to increase penalties on human trafficking before the Super Bowl comes to the state.
Huttle said she believes those who own and publish websites should make sure the individuals on the site are of age. “We are trying to give this legislation and give as many tools as possible to eradicate human trafficking. And when you have publishers and websites publishing underage children being sold for sex and being exploited for sex, we think it’s the responsibility of the publisher, website owner to at least do some due diligence to make sure that these kids are of age and to us, the burden should be on them. They are making millions of dollars and again, I think it’s something that needs to be done here in New Jersey,” she said.
While those who run the websites say they can’t be aware of everything posted by independent vendors, Huttle said the least they can do is a search to see if the people are of age. “I believe that the burden is miniscule in terms of scarring a child for life, forever. This is something that we want to get done,” she said.
According to Huttle, the Human Trafficking Prevention, Awareness and Treatment Act is one of the most comprehensive pieces of legislation in the country. She added that any fines go into a survivors’ assistance fund to help the victims.
Just last week, six people were arrested in Lakewood, accused of running several brothels and participating in human trafficking. Huttle said that incident highlights the fact that human trafficking happens in New Jersey and isn’t just something that goes on in other countries.
With the Super Bowl coming to the Garden State in 2014, Huttle said more needs to be done to crack down on illegal practices. “When you have these large sporting venues, it does attract sex trafficking, drug trafficking and so we want these laws in place,” she said. “We also want the hotels to have guidelines and awareness. They’re making little soaps now for hotels that will have the helpline number, so this all is coming together in time for the Super Bowl. And I’m hoping that New Jersey leads the way in this.”
Huttle was also a prime sponsor for the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights, which she called the one of the most comprehensive laws in the nation. While she said she is happy with the enforcement of the law, she said the Department of Education needs to make sure the guidelines are in place. “The teachers and the administrators need to understand the difference between normal conflict and those of harassment, intimidation and bullying and how to deal with it,” she said.
According to Huttle, the prime sponsors of the bill wrote to the education commissioner to enhance the law.
Huttle said she has a positive outlook for the future. “When I go to schools during their Week of Respect, and when I go to schools even after that, there are many more bullying clubs popping up. They’re teaching or instilling it into the lower grades from kindergarten through the middle school. And when you start instilling the culture and teaching it, incorporating it into the curriculum of these kids, by the time they get to high school, college and into the workplace, I hope that they will get it, that the culture can change,” she said.
With the outcome of recent polls, some are saying Republicans have a chance to take control of both houses of the legislature. Huttle said Democrats take elections very seriously. “I know the Democrats are working very hard as well as Republicans are,” she said. “I think it would be safe to say that we will continue to maintain the majority in both houses.”
Huttle said bipartisanship is the way to accomplish goals in the legislature. “Bipartisanship is a way to cut through gridlock and I will say that both bills that we talked about — human trafficking and the anti-bullying bill — had bipartisan support. So what I do is I always look for bipartisanship. And that’s the way to get things done,” she said. “And I think more and more people are looking to get things done in a way that will enhance the state of New Jersey.”