HF3963

Purpose

Provide money from the state to support efforts to prevent trafficking and sexual exploitation of youth. The funds are aimed at expanding a specific prevention program in the Twin Cities area and improving awareness, education, and victim-centered, trauma-informed support related to youth trafficking and sexual violence.

Main Provisions

• A one-time appropriation of $125,000 in fiscal year 2027 from Minnesota’s general fund to the Commissioner of Public Safety for the Office of Justice Programs.
• The Office of Justice Programs must grant funds to Citizens Against Sex Trafficking to support the Power Over Predators prevention program.
• The grant is intended to address youth trafficking and sexual exploitation in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
• Citizens Against Sex Trafficking must expand Power Over Predators youth trafficking prevention services to include youth, their parents, and the broader community.
• Expansion should involve collaboration with:
  • Youth groups
  • Recovery support groups
  • Domestic violence support groups
  • Ramsey County correctional facility
• The program must provide victim-centered and trauma-informed support, raise awareness, and deliver education to prevent youth trafficking, sexual violence, and exploitation in Minnesota.

Funding and Administration

• Funds come from the general fund and are administered through the Office of Justice Programs.
• The grant recipient is Citizens Against Sex Trafficking.
• This is a one-time, targeted allocation and not a continuing appropriation.

Significance and Impact

• Focuses on preventing youth trafficking and sexual exploitation by expanding outreach to families and communities, not just youth.
• Emphasizes victim-centered, trauma-informed approaches to support and education.
• Targets prevention efforts in the Twin Cities area, with collaborative elements across community and correctional settings.

Relationship to Existing Law

• This is an appropriation rather than a change to existing statutory provisions.
• It creates a targeted, one-time funding mechanism to support a specific prevention program, without signaling a broad reform of public safety or trafficking laws.

Terminology Emphasis

Key terms included in the bill: trafficking, sexual exploitation, youth, Power Over Predators prevention program, victim-centered, trauma-informed, awareness, education, twins cities metropolitan area, Ramsey County correctional facility, recovery support groups, domestic violence support groups, youth parents, general fund, Office of Justice Programs.

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Relevant Terms - Power Over Predators - Citizens Against Sex Trafficking - Office of Justice Programs - General Fund - Trafficking - Sexual exploitation - Youth - Twin Cities metropolitan area - Victim-centered - Trauma-informed - Awareness - Education - Recovery support groups - Domestic violence support groups - Ramsey County correctional facility - One-time appropriation - Prevention program - Youth parents - Community engagement