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Committee hears bill requiring human-trafficking education in K–12 schools
Summary
SB107 would require the Office of Public Instruction to develop instruction and activities for K–12 students and school staff to identify and respond to child and human trafficking. Proponents — including tribal representatives, survivors and advocacy groups — said education is a preventive tool; no opponents testified in person.
Sen. Susan Webber, sponsor of Senate Bill 107, told the Senate Judiciary Committee the bill "requires OPI to develop instruction for bridal, school, and high school students to identify and avoid human trafficking," and stressed the bill targets prevention and awareness in schools.
The committee heard broad support from tribal leaders, law-enforcement allies and advocacy organizations who framed the bill as a proactive prevention measure that can help identify victims early and connect them to services. Witnesses pointed to sharp increases in reported trafficking incidents and to the disproportionate impact on Indigenous communities.
Why it matters: Proponents said trafficking prevention education can help teachers, bus drivers and other school employees spot signs of exploitation and route students to support. Supporters noted federal and philanthropic funding sources that could be used to develop curriculum and emphasized the bill fills a gap in school safety and public-health prevention efforts.
Proponents’ testimony and evidence: Patrick Yawake, representing the Blackfeet Tribe and Chippewa Cree, said states that implemented trafficking education found it an effective preventive measure and cited available federal grant sources to develop curriculum. Keaton Sunchild of Western Native Voice and other tribal speakers stressed the disproportionate toll on Native communities and urged passage; Diana Bird, a community advocate, described local awareness-training events and urged the committee to support the bill. Ria Bahadur, who authored a trafficking-education bill passed in another state and testified as a proponent, described national data and survivor-informed curriculum work; she told the committee she began advocacy as a child and has carried the work to other states.
Data cited: Proponents referenced statistics from the Montana Department of Justice and other sources in testimony. Witnesses said reported trafficking incidents in Montana have risen in recent years and that missing and murdered Indigenous people statistics underlie urgency for tribal communities.
Questions and implementation: Committee members asked whether the Office of Public Instruction (OPI) and Department of Justice were engaged; the sponsor said OPI and DOJ had indicated they would participate but were not present at the hearing. Members also asked about costs and whether the proposed modules could be absorbed into existing curricula; proponents said OPI already uses modular curricula and the bill would add trafficking content that could fit existing training frameworks.
Where things stand: The hearing included extensive proponent testimony and no in-room opponents; the sponsor asked for a due-pass. Committee members said they wanted cost and implementation details from OPI and DOJ before further action.
Ending note: Proponents framed SB107 as prevention-focused education that could help identify victims and support tribal communities disproportionately affected by missing and trafficked youth. The committee requested additional cost and implementation information from OPI and DOJ before advancing the bill further.
