Summary:

HB 324 requires tattoo shops and body piercing shops to post signs that bring awareness to human trafficking, while also requiring the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) to provide and encourage the workers in these fields to complete training courses that aid them in recognizing and reporting human trafficking and referring clients to resources for victims of human trafficking.

Analysis:

Human Trafficking is a direct and abominable result of the fall of humanity. With thousands of years of human civilization, human trafficking has always remained an issue geographically, nationally, and even locally. The exploitation of fellow image-bearers of God (see Gen. 1:27) has plagued the human race almost since its very existence. As of the last decade, Delaware has been among the top states in the U.S. per capita affected by human trafficking. The most reputable source–Joslyn Law Firm–found Delaware to have the 14th most human trafficking victims per capita from 2019-2023.

The General Assembly has taken action this legislative year to address the horrible issues of human trafficking. Representative Melanie Ross Levin sponsored HB 265–a bill that passed the House and is currently awaiting consideration in Committee–which would grant immunity for those who were victims of sex trafficking and were reporting sexual abuse. This bill was made in an attempt to nullify certain criminal offenses that were done in result of being trafficked (i.e. Shoplifting, burglary, drug possession, etc.), thus encouraging victims to report their abuse as opposed to withholding their report due to fear of being prosecuted for other offenses.

And now we have HB 324. This bill seems very straightforward and easy to support. It is indeed a simple step that is being legislatively required to be taken by those who work in an industry that often crosses paths with those in or committing human trafficking. The words of this bill offer no harm, however, the sponsor historically has. 

While there is technically little to no harm done by HB 324, this is nonetheless a bill you should watch, given the recent history of the sponsor of this bill. The sponsor has a history of sponsoring bills that conflict with the Biblical Worldview, promote family dysfunction, gender mutilation, and unaccountability to doctors who enacted clear malpractice. Therefore, as the Lord Jesus commands us: “…so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” (Matt. 10:16).

Keep an ear out for how the bill is discussed in committees and Floor Sessions.