SB354 Alabama 2010 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Steve French

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2010

Title

Human trafficking, coercion to perform labor or sexual servitude, prohibited, criminal penalties

Summary

SB354 would make coercion- or deception-based human trafficking illegal in Alabama, with serious criminal penalties, restitution and civil remedies, and rules for corporate liability.

What This Bill Does

It makes labor servitude and sexual servitude illegal when someone is coerced or deceived, defining coercion and deception. It creates two trafficking crimes: first degree (Class A felony) and second degree (Class B felony, with a minimum of 10 years if the victim is under 18), plus an obstruction offense. It requires restitution and other costs to victims, allows forfeiture of profits and assets, and lets victims bring civil suits for damages including treble damages in certain cases. It also sets rules for corporate liability, provides no statute of limitations for trafficking offenses, and gives trafficking victims a legal defense in prosecutions for acts done as part of trafficking.

Who It Affects

• Potential trafficking victims, who would be protected by criminal penalties, restitution, and the ability to sue for damages and receive support.
• Traffickers and individuals who exploit others, who could face serious felonies (Class A or B) and related costs, forfeiture, and civil liability.
• Corporations, which could be prosecuted for trafficking if an agent acted within the company’s scope or a pattern of trafficking occurred, with possible exemptions if the company did not authorize or know of the actions.
• Law enforcement and prosecutors, who would share concurrent authority to prosecute trafficking cases.

Key Provisions

• Defines coercion and deception and makes it illegal to cause labor servitude or sexual servitude through those means.
• Establishes first-degree trafficking (Class A felony) and second-degree trafficking (Class B felony, with a minimum 10-year term if the victim is under 18); adds a separate obstruction offense (Class C misdemeanor).
• Corporations may be prosecuted for trafficking only if an agent acts within the scope of employment or the company authorized or benefited from the conduct; potential exemptions apply if the corporation was not aware of the actions.
• Requires mandatory restitution to victims and allows recovery of medical/psychological treatment costs, transportation, housing, attorney fees, and the greater of the victim’s labor value or the defendant’s gain; permits asset forfeiture to fund restitution and victim damages, with remaining assets going to the Alabama Crime Victim's Compensation Fund.
• Allows victims to file civil actions for actual, compensatory, punitive, and other damages, with treble damages possible for willful and malicious conduct; no statute of limitations for trafficking offenses; victims have an affirmative defense in prosecutions for acts performed as a result of trafficking.
• Prosecuting attorneys and the Attorney General share concurrent authority to prosecute trafficking cases; each violation is a separate offense.
• Includes provisions related to local government expenditures and exemptions under Amendment 621 of the Alabama Constitution; the act is treated as exempt from certain expenditure-vote requirements.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Crimes and Offenses