Pennsylvania HB 2258: An Act amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in juvenile matters, providing for trauma-informed screening for human trafficking victimization.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 2955
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2258
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY WEBSTER, SANCHEZ, KINKEAD, HILL-EVANS, KHAN,
FREEMAN, DOUGHERTY, MERSKI, STEELE, HANBIDGE AND DELLOSO,
MARCH 2, 2026
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, MARCH 3, 2026
AN ACT
Amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in juvenile matters,
providing for trauma-informed screening for human trafficking
victimization.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 42 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
§ 6343. Trauma-informed screening for human trafficking
victimization.
(a) Screening development and administration.--The
Department of Human Services, in collaboration with the Juvenile
Court Judges' Commission, shall develop and implement a trauma-
informed screening to identify whether a child is a victim of,
or may be at risk for becoming a victim of, human trafficking
involving sexual servitude as defined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 3001
(relating to definitions). A juvenile probation officer shall
administer the screening to an allegedly delinquent child at the
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18

intake conference following the submission of a written
allegation.
(b) Connection to specialized services.--If the screening
under subsection (a) identifies a child as a victim of, or at
risk for becoming a victim of, human trafficking involving
sexual servitude, a juvenile probation officer shall connect the
child with specialized programs and services available under 18
Pa.C.S. § 3062 (relating to specialized services for sexually
exploited children).
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 90 days.
20260HB2258PN2955 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10