Ohio urged to bolster human trafficking law

COLUMBUS (AP) — Lawmakers and advocates want Ohio to do more to fight what they’ve described as modern-day slavery.

A Monday conference at the Ohio Statehouse focused on human trafficking and ways to strengthen a year-old state law that increased sentences for crimes if human trafficking is involved.

State Sen. Teresa Fedor, D-Toledo, introduced the bill Gov. Ted Strickland signed last January and says she plans to offer a new measure to make human trafficking a stand-alone felony offense.

Human rights expert Mark Lagon of the Polaris Project said Ohio also needs to broaden its definition of human trafficking to include forced labor and not just people coerced into the sex trade. And, he said the state should offer more assistance to trafficking victims.