human trafficking

Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt has been appointed to a national committee focused on combating human trafficking.

Schmidt's office says he's the first Kansan to serve on the Human Trafficking Committee of the National Association of Attorneys General.

The appointment comes in the same year that Kansas legislators voted to strengthen the state's anti-trafficking law.

Gov. Sam Brownback has signed into law a bill to combat human trafficking and exploitation of underage sex workers.

The governor signed the bill Monday, saying it will provide increased criminal penalties and services for victims of sexual exploitation.

"This would not only strengthen our ability to severly punish traffickers," said Brownback. "It would give us valuable new tools to protect vulnerable young victims so they can have hope of a new life and break the cycle of exploitation."

The bill modifies Kansas human trafficking laws passed nearly a decade ago.

Dozens of social workers and law enforcement personnel around Kansas recently completed training designed to further understanding of human trafficking, which is a modern form of human slavery.

Classes were held in Wichita, Topeka and Hays. Social workers from the Kansas Department for Children and Families and Kansas Highway Patrol officers gained new insights from nationally renowned expert Dottie Laster.