AGREEMENT REACHED ON ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING LEGISLATION

Governor Eliot Spitzer, Lieutenant Governor David Paterson and legislative leaders today
announced an agreement on legislation that will combat the trafficking of human beings. The
legislation makes Sex Trafficking and Labor Trafficking felony-level crimes and provides access
to state social services for trafficking victims.

The United States Department of State has estimated that between 18,000 and 20,000
people are trafficked into the United States each year for forced labor, involuntary domestic
servitude, or sexual exploitation. New York is known to be a frequent port of entry for such
activity. Trafficking also originates domestically, and both types of trafficking frequently involve
children.

To fight these forms of modern-day slavery, New York now joins the federal government
and 24 other states that have enacted anti-human trafficking legislation. Under the legislation,
traffickers who advance or profit from prostitution activity by compelling, inducing, deceiving or
forcing their victims into prostitution activity can be convicted of the class B felony of Sex
Trafficking. Traffickers who exploit workers using similar types of coercive activity can be
convicted of the class D felony of Labor Trafficking.

Under the new legislation, victims of trafficking who are not otherwise eligible for social
services, either because they are not United States citizens or because they are foreign
nationals who have not yet been certified as eligible for federal assistance programs, can now
receive social service assistance from the state. These services include case management,
emergency temporary housing, health and mental health care, drug addiction screening and
treatment, language and translation services, and job training. They also include coordination
with the federal government to obtain special visas that allow the victims in the United States to
testify against the traffickers, eventually becoming eligible for refugee status.

The new legislation also provides for the following:

* Creation of an interagency task force to coordinate implementation
of the new law, collect data on trafficking, and recommend best
practices for training and community outreach to help law
enforcement, social service providers, prosecutors, defense attorneys
and the general public to recognize trafficking situations. The
Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) has already begun
training for prosecutors and law enforcement agencies.

* Clarifying in statute that knowingly selling travel-related
services to facilitate prostitution – a business known as
“prostitution tourism”- is the class D felony of Promoting
Prostitution in the Third Degree.

* Suppressing the demand for prostitution by elevating the
lowest-level patronizing a prostitute crime from a B to an A
misdemeanor.

“Updating and enhancing our human-trafficking laws to adequately punish the perpetrators 
of these unspeakable crimes and sufficiently support victims is critically important,” said
Governor Spitzer. “New York is finally joining the ranks of other states in ensuring that those

who exploit innocent people and children and cause extreme suffering are subject to strict
punishment under state law.”

But, there’s no need to worry, 50mg sildenafil generic for thorough treatment method and remission. Studies have also reported that risk of impotence enhances along the increase in age. buying viagra online The medicine will not go affect cialis samples free the placenta or go through mother’s milk to the baby. Maybe viagra wholesale india when your partner is watching something that turns her off. Lieutenant Governor David A. Paterson said: “This legislation does more than protect
victims and punish perpetrators. This law sends a clear message to those who suffer this form
of modern-day slavery: you are not at fault, you can start over, and you are not alone.
Empowering victims by providing access to services for which they might otherwise be ineligible
gives them a real chance to overcome their hardship.”

Speaker Sheldon Silver said: “Human trafficking is an international scourge that defies
human decency. As a society, we are all diminished when human suffering goes unchecked.
This agreement sends a crystal, clear message to those who prey upon the innocent: this
abhorrent, criminal behavior simply will not be tolerated in New York State. I commend the
determined efforts of Assembly Codes Committee Chair Joseph Lentol, bill sponsor Jeffrey
Dinowitz and Assembly member Amy Paulin in bringing this agreement to fruition. The
Assembly expects to move swiftly to ensure this bill becomes law so that victims are protected
and criminals receive harsh punishment.”

Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno said: “Human trafficking is nothing more than
modern-day slavery. The Senate has passed human trafficking legislation unanimously for
three years in a row. This legislation will punish the despicable people who engage in human
trafficking and provide assistance and support to the victims. I congratulate Senator Frank
Padavan who has championed this issue for five years for his work in reaching this agreement.”

Senate Democratic Leader Malcolm A. Smith said: “The agreement we’ve reached will not
only increase penalties for those who commit the heinous crime of human trafficking, but will
also help the victims, who often have no where to go and no one to turn to when they have
been rescued. This measure will give them an opportunity to rebuild their lives and regain their
dignity.”

Assembly Minority Leader James Tedisco said: “This is a good law. Unfortunately this sick
practice does exist in the shadows and dark corners of some places in New York. It needs to be
exposed. Those responsible need to be severely punished and victims need to be protected
and rehabilitated.”

Michael E. Bongiorno, Rockland County District Attorney said: “I am glad that the New York
State District Attorneys Association was able to work with Governor Spitzer, the state legislature
and victim advocate organizations to draft human trafficking legislation. It may be difficult for
the average citizen to comprehend, but even in this day and age there are people who are
forced into prostitution or labor servitude. This law will provide law enforcement and
prosecutors the tools they need to successfully investigate and prosecute human trafficking
cases.”
Executive Director of Equality Now Taina Bien-Aimé said: “Equality Now and the New York
State Anti-Trafficking Coalition are delighted to learn that New York State is soon to adopt a
strong anti-trafficking law. This bill would not have been possible without the extraordinary
leadership of Governor Eliot Spitzer and his deeply dedicated staff, as well as the vision and
commitment of Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno. Among
other provisions, the New York State bill comprehensively addresses the prosecution of
traffickers and the protection of its victims, elements that will make it a model law and the
strongest state anti-trafficking legislation in the Nation.”

Chairperson of the Downstate Coalition for Crime Victims Susan Xenarios said: “The
Downstate Coalition for Crime Victims supports comprehensive NYS human anti-trafficking
legislation which not only criminalizes this heinous act but also addresses the services needed
for victims and the training needed for law enforcement and service providers. This bill is the
culmination of the collaborative efforts of criminal justice, law enforcement and victim rights
organizations in NYS. We applaud the Governor and the state legislature for respecting the
urgency and moving quickly on this bill.”