[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1703 Referred in House (RFH)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 1703


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 2, 2008

               Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
             To prevent and reduce trafficking in persons.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Trafficking in Persons 
Accountability Act of 2008''.

SEC. 2. JURISDICTION IN CERTAIN TRAFFICKING OFFENSES.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 77 of title 18, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 1596. Additional jurisdiction in certain trafficking offenses
    ``(a) In General.--In addition to any domestic or extra-territorial 
jurisdiction otherwise provided by law, the courts of the United States 
have extra-territorial jurisdiction over any offense (or any attempt or 
conspiracy to commit an offense) under section 1581, section 1583, 
section 1584, section 1589, section 1590, or section 1591 of this title 
if--
            ``(1) an alleged offender is a national of the United 
        States or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence 
        (as those terms are defined in section 101 of the Immigration 
        and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101)); or
            ``(2) an alleged offender is present in the United States, 
        irrespective of the nationality of the alleged offender.
    ``(b) Limitation on Prosecutions of Offenses Prosecuted in Other 
Countries.--No prosecution may be commenced against a person under this 
section if a foreign government, in accordance with jurisdiction 
recognized by the United States, has prosecuted or is prosecuting such 
person for the conduct constituting such offense, except upon the 
approval of the Attorney General or the Deputy Attorney General (or a 
person acting in either such capacity), which function of approval may 
not be delegated.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
chapter 77 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following:

``1596. Additional jurisdiction in certain trafficking offenses.''.

            Passed the Senate October 1 (legislative day, September 
      17), 2008.

            Attest:

                                                NANCY ERICKSON,

                                                             Secretary.