[118th Congress Public Law 96]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[[Page 138 STAT. 1569]]
Public Law 118-96
118th Congress
An Act
To improve services for trafficking victims by establishing, in Homeland
Security Investigations, the Investigators Maintain Purposeful Awareness
to Combat Trafficking Trauma Program and the Victim Assistance
Program. <<NOTE: Oct. 1, 2024 - [S. 670]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: IMPACTT Human
Trafficking Act.>>
SECTION 1. <<NOTE: 6 USC 101 note.>> SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``IMPACTT Human Trafficking Act''.
SEC. 2. <<NOTE: 6 USC 258 note.>> INVESTIGATORS MAINTAIN
PURPOSEFUL AWARENESS TO COMBAT TRAFFICKING
TRAUMA PROGRAM.
(a) Establishment.--There is established, in Homeland Security
Investigations of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the
Investigators Maintain Purposeful Awareness to Combat Trafficking Trauma
Program (referred to in this Act as the ``IMPACTT Program'').
(b) Functions.--The IMPACTT Program shall--
(1) provide outreach and training to Homeland Security
Investigations employees who have been exposed to various forms
of trauma in working with victims of human trafficking,
including--
(A) self-awareness training for the relevant
employees on recognizing the signs of burnout,
compassion fatigue, critical incident stress, traumatic
stress, posttraumatic stress, secondary traumatic
stress, and vicarious trauma;
(B) training material that--
(i) provides mechanisms for self-care and
resilience and notification of resources that are
available through U.S. Immigration and Customs
Enforcement, such as the Employee Assistance
Program, the Peer Support Program, the Chaplain
Program, and other relevant accredited programs
that are available; and
(ii) provides examples of potential resources
that are available outside of U.S. Immigration and
Customs Enforcement, which may include, faith-
based and community-based resources; and
(C) provide additional training to first line
supervisors of relevant employees on recognizing the
signs referred to in subparagraph (A) and the
appropriate responses to employees exhibiting such
signs;
(2) include training modules that are carried out by--
(A) licensed and accredited clinicians who--
[[Page 138 STAT. 1570]]
(i) have been trained on the exposure of
various forms of trauma and other stressors
experienced in working with victims; and
(ii) may have experience working with faith-
based organizations, community-based
organizations, counseling programs, or other
social service programs; and
(B) additional subject matter experts who are
available; and
(3) be overseen and coordinated by the Department of
Homeland Security Center for Countering Human Trafficking to
ensure that--
(A) appropriate program materials are distributed;
(B) training is offered to all relevant employees;
and
(C) any needed travel and equipment is provided.
SEC. 3. HOMELAND SECURITY INVESTIGATIONS VICTIM ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Subtitle D of title IV of the Homeland Security Act
of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 251 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``SEC. 447. <<NOTE: 6 USC 258 note.>> HOMELAND SECURITY
INVESTIGATIONS VICTIM ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Forensic interview specialist.--The term `forensic
interview specialist' is an interview professional who has
specialized experience and training in conducting trauma-
informed forensic interviews with victims of crime.
``(2) Victim.--The term `victim' has the meaning given such
term in section 503(e)(2) of the Victims' Rights and Restitution
Act of 1990 (34 U.S.C. 20141(e)(2)).
``(3) Victim assistance specialist.--The term `victim
assistance specialist' is a victim assistance professional who--
``(A) has experience working with victims of crime
in a service capacity;
``(B) has been trained on the exposure of various
forms of trauma and other stressors experienced in
working with victims; and
``(C) may have experience working with local
government and community-based organizations, including
victim advocacy centers, child advocacy centers, child
welfare agencies, faith-based organizations, and other
social service programs.
``(b) In General.--There is established, in Homeland Security
Investigations of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Victim
Assistance Program.
``(c) Functions.--The Victim Assistance Program shall--
``(1) provide oversight, guidance, training, travel,
equipment, and coordination to Homeland Security Investigations
victim assistance personnel throughout the United States;
``(2) recruit not fewer than--
``(A) 1 forensic interview specialist and 1 victim
assistance specialist for each Homeland Security
Investigations Special Agent in Charge office;
``(B) 1 victim assistance specialist for--
``(i) every Homeland Security Investigations
office participating in a human trafficking task
force; and
[[Page 138 STAT. 1571]]
``(ii) every Homeland Security Investigations
office participating in a child sexual
exploitation task force;
``(3) support Homeland Security Investigations regional
attache offices, to the extent necessary;
``(4) provide training regarding victims' rights, victim-
related policies, roles of forensic interviewers and victim
assistance specialists, and an approach that is--
``(A) victim-centered;
``(B) trauma-informed; and
``(C) linguistically appropriate, to the extent
feasible; and
``(5) purchase emergency items that are needed to assist
identified victims in Homeland Security Investigations criminal
investigations, including food, clothing, hygiene products,
transportation, and temporary shelter that is not otherwise
provided by a nongovernmental organization.''.
(b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--The Homeland Security Act
of 2002 (Public Law 107-296) is amended--
(1) in section 1(b) (6 U.S.C. 101 note)--
(A) by striking the item relating to section 442 and
inserting the following:
``Sec. 442. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.'';
and
(B) by inserting after the item relating to section
446 the following:
``Sec. 447. Homeland Security Investigations Victim Assistance
Program.'';
(2) in section 442-- <<NOTE: 6 USC 252.>>
(A) by amending the section heading to read as
follows: ``u.s. immigration and customs enforcement'';
(B) by striking ``bureau'' each place such term
appears (except in subsection (a)(1)) and inserting
``agency'';
(C) by striking ``the Bureau of Border Security''
each place such term appears and inserting ``U.S.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement'';
(D) in subsection (a)--
(i) in the subsection heading, by striking
``of Bureau'';
(ii) in paragraph (3)(C), by striking
``affecting the Bureau of'' and inserting
``affecting U.S.''; and
(iii) in paragraph (4), by striking ``the
Bureau.'' and inserting ``the agency.''; and
(E) in subsection (b)(2)--
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A),
by striking ``Bureau of Border Security'' and
inserting ``U.S. Immigration and Customs
Enforcement''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``the
Bureau of'' before ``Citizenship and Immigration
Services'' and inserting ``U.S.''; and
(3) in section 443(2), <<NOTE: 6 USC 253.>> by striking
``such bureau'' and inserting ``such agency''.
SEC. 4. ANNUAL REPORT.
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act,
and annually thereafter, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit
a report to Congress that identifies, with respect to the reporting
period--
[[Page 138 STAT. 1572]]
(1) the number of trainings that were provided through the
IMPACTT Program and the number of personnel who received such
training; and
(2) the number of human trafficking victims who were
assisted by the Homeland Security Investigations Victim
Assistance Program.
SEC. 5. NO ADDITIONAL FUNDS.
No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated for the
purpose of carrying out this Act.
SEC. 6. <<NOTE: 6 USC 252 note.>> SUNSET.
This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall cease to have
force or effect beginning on October 1, 2030.
Approved October 1, 2024.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 670:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
SENATE REPORTS: No. 118-17 (Comm. on Homeland Security and Governmental
Affairs).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD:
Vol. 169 (2023):
Nov. 8, considered and passed
Senate.
Vol. 170 (2024):
Sept. 23, considered and passed
House.
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