Truck drivers licensed in Arkansas will soon be required to complete a course in human trafficking prevention.
Act 922, previously House Bill 1923, introduced by Rep. Charlotte Douglas, is set to become law in late July, 2017.
According to Arkansas Democrat Gazette, once in place, Act 922 will require any person looking to renew or obtain a class A commercial driver’s license in Arkansas to complete a human trafficking prevention course with the Arkansas State Police, state-police approved third party, or online via Truckers Against Trafficking. “The fact is that those places that [human traffickers] utilize to pimp or put out the young people are places that are frequented by truck drivers …. they want to help out. They want to know what to do if they see something that looks suspicious,” says Shannon Newton, president of the Arkansas Trucking Association.
Lawmakers say that the certification course will consist of a 30 minute informational video and a 15 question quiz, if taken online. It is designed as a one-time course and will be provided for free.
The course has already proven itself to be effective. According to KARK 4 news, Rep. Douglas explained how a human trafficking victim who had been beaten, raped and burned was 2 weeks from death when she was rescued.
“What saved her… was a trucker who had taken the trucker’s course,” Douglas said.
The new law is expected to affect 60,000 drivers in the state.