House committee releases 'Ink of Hope' bill to train tattoo and piercing staff to spot trafficking

House Bill 2324, the "Ink of Hope Act," was released from the Delaware House Health Committee on a roll‑call vote after sponsor Representative Neal described the measure as a tool to help tattoo and body‑piercing workers recognize possible victims of human trafficking and connect them to services.

The bill directs the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) to provide a list of free, nonprofit‑led training programs aimed at helping workers identify signs of trafficking; establishments that complete training would receive a sticker to display in their windows. Neal told the committee the measure is intended to increase visibility of resources for victims and give local businesses an additional safety net.

"This will be another safety net," Representative Neal said in opening remarks, arguing that parlors are unexpected but valuable places where victims can be noticed and helped. The sponsor also said the bill would take effect one year after enactment to allow time for implementation.

Sarah Poore, executive director of the Delaware Anti‑Trafficking Action Council, told the committee she appreciated the partnership with the sponsor and urged support, saying traffickers sometimes brand victims with tattoos to mark them as property. "In Delaware, we've had children as young as 13 be branded with tattoos," Poore said, adding that certain symbolic tattoos are used by traffickers.

Committee members asked how parlors would be notified and whether training would be mandatory. Sponsor Neal and Poore said DHSS would include links to training in the parlors' existing annual recertification process for health and hygiene compliance so businesses would be able to access and document training completion. Poore said DHSS would be able to track who accessed the human‑trafficking training through its compliance systems.

DHSS expressed concern about mandating another required training, Poore said, but committee members and several parlors reportedly signaled interest in voluntarily completing the curriculum; Neal suggested the committee could reevaluate mandating it after monitoring participation for a year or two.

Representative Michael Smith, who said he is a member of the Delaware Anti‑Trafficking Action Council, supported the bill and described a recent constituent report that led to law‑enforcement review of surveillance footage as an example of community members recognizing potential trafficking situations.

A motion to release HB 2324 carried on a roll‑call vote and the committee chair said the bill will be forwarded to the full House for consideration. The committee did not adopt a mandate in the bill; it instead uses DHSS tracking and an encouragement framework, with the possibility of reevaluating mandatory requirements in the future.

The next step for HB 2324 is consideration by the full House; the committee record and any written comments submitted within 24 hours will be included in the public record.