Ohio Senate to take up human trafficking measure

COLUMBUS (AP) — A proposal aimed at combating what supporters describe as modern-day slavery is poised to clear its toughest legislative hurdle later today, on the floor of the Ohio Senate.

The legislation would make human trafficking a stand-alone felony in a state that’s been criticized for trailing such regulations nationally. Ohio is among a handful of states without a stand-alone human trafficking law.

A report from a state commission found about 1,000 American-born children are forced into the sex trade in Ohio every year and about 800 immigrants are sexually exploited and pushed into sweatshop-type jobs.

The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Teresa Fedor, says the state needs the law because federal authorities can’t handle all the Ohio cases.