Crime of labor trafficking resulting in death encoded in statute

A new law creates a new crime of labor trafficking that results in death with a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison and a $40,000 fine.

It also creates enhanced penalties for labor trafficking a person over an extended period of time or when a labor trafficking victim suffers great bodily harm as a result of the trafficking. This crime could be punished by up to 20 years in prison and a $40,000 fine if the:

• victim is under age 18;

• labor trafficking occurs over an extended period of time; or

• victim suffers great bodily harm and the harm was proximately caused by the labor trafficking conduct of the offender.

Some terminology is also updated to add clarity around what sort of acts rise to the level of force or coercion. Prior law focused more on physical harm and the threat of such harm; the new law adds more specificity to that type of harm and clarifies that psychological harm can be considered.

Sponsored by Rep. Sandra Feist (DFL-New Brighton) and Sen. Clare Oumou Verbeten (DFL-St. Paul), the law takes effect Aug. 1, 2023.

HF42*/SF133/CH27

HF0042* / SF0133 / CH27