[119th Congress Public Law 131]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[[Page 140 STAT. 1091]]
Public Law 119-131
119th Congress
An Act
To direct the Secretary of Labor to train certain employees of
Department of Labor how to effectively detect and assist law enforcement
in preventing human trafficking during the course of their official
duties, and for other purposes. <<NOTE: Oct. 20, 2026 - [H.R. 4307]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Enhancing
Detection of Human Trafficking Act.>>
SECTION 1. <<NOTE: 29 USC 551 note.>> SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Enhancing Detection of Human
Trafficking Act''.
SEC. 2. <<NOTE: 29 USC 570 note.>> DEFINITION OF HUMAN
TRAFFICKING.
In this Act, the term ``human trafficking'' means any act or
practice described in paragraph (11) of section 103 of the Trafficking
Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7102).
SEC. 3. <<NOTE: 29 USC 570.>> TRAINING FOR DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL TO
IDENTIFY HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
(a) <<NOTE: Deadline. Determination.>> In General.--Not later than
180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Labor
shall implement a program to provide the training and periodic
continuing education described in subsection (b) to employees of the
Department of Labor whom the Secretary determines should receive such
training or education based on their official duties. In making such
determination with respect to employees of the Wage and Hour Division,
the Secretary shall consider the training and education needs of such
employees operating in a State with a significant increase in oppressive
child labor (as defined in section 3(l) of the Fair Labor Standards Act
of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 203(l)).
(b) Training and Continuing Education Described.--The training and
continuing education provided under the program referred to in
subsection (a)--
(1) may be conducted through in-class or virtual learning
capabilities; and
(2) shall include--
(A) training or continuing education that--
(i) is most appropriate for the particular
location or professional environment in which the
employees receiving such training or continuing
education perform their official duties;
(ii) <<NOTE: Determination.>> covers topics
determined by the Secretary of Labor to
appropriately reflect current trends and best
practices for such location or environment; and
(iii) includes--
[[Page 140 STAT. 1092]]
(I) the provision of current
information on matters related to the
detection of human trafficking to the
extent relevant to the official duties
of such employees, and consistent with
privacy laws;
(II) methods for identifying
suspected victims of human trafficking
and parties who may be suspected of the
trafficking activity; and
(III) a clear course of action for
referring potential cases of human
trafficking to the Department of Justice
and other appropriate authorities, in
accordance with best practices for
protecting the rights of victims of
human trafficking, including appropriate
collaboration with victim advocacy
organizations, Federal agencies, and
State and local officials; and
(B) an evaluation of the training or continuing
education by such employees after the completion of such
training or education.
SEC. 4. <<NOTE: 29 USC 570 note.>> REPORTS TO CONGRESS.
Not later than 1 year after the Secretary of Labor first implements
the program under section 3(a), and each year thereafter, the Secretary
of Labor shall submit to the Committee on Education and Workforce of the
House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor,
and Pensions of the Senate, a report on--
(1) the training and continuing education provided under the
program for the preceding year, including--
(A) an evaluation (including the overall
effectiveness) of such training and continuing
education; and
(B) the number of individuals who have completed
such training or continuing education; and
(2) the number of cases related to the detection of human
trafficking, which were referred to the Department of Justice
and other appropriate authorities during the preceding year by
the Department of Labor, and the processes used by the
Department of Labor to accurately measure and track the response
of the Department of Justice and other appropriate authorities
to such cases.
Approved October 20, 2026.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 4307:
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HOUSE REPORTS: No. 119-507 (Comm. on Education and Workforce).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 172 (2026):
Mar. 3, considered and passed House.
Sept. 30, considered and passed Senate.
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