HB681: Trafficking in persons; civil action.


VIRGINIA ACTS OF ASSEMBLY -- CHAPTER
An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 8.01-42.4, relating to trafficking in persons; civil action.
[H 681]
Approved

 

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 8.01-42.4 as follows:

§ 8.01-42.4. Civil action for trafficking in persons.

A. As used in this section:

"Compensatory damages" includes damages for all of the defendant's acts prohibited under a felony provision of § 18.2-346, or under § 18.2-348, 18.2-349, 18.2-355, 18.2-356, 18.2-357, 18.2-357.1, or 18.2-368.

"Victim" means a person who was subjected to conduct that constituted trafficking in persons under a felony violation of § 18.2-346, or under § 18.2-348, 18.2-349, 18.2-355, 18.2-356, 18.2-357, 18.2-357.1, or 18.2-368, regardless of whether the perpetrator is identified, apprehended, prosecuted, or convicted.

B. A victim has a civil cause of action against the perpetrator of conduct to which the victim was subjected that is prohibited under a felony violation of § 18.2-346, or under § 18.2-348, 18.2-349, 18.2-355, 18.2-356, 18.2-357, 18.2-357.1, or 18.2-368, whether or not the perpetrator has been charged or convicted for the alleged violation, for the compensatory damages incurred by the victim as a result of that conduct, in addition to the attorney fees and costs for bringing the action. If compensatory damages are awarded, a victim may also be awarded punitive damages.

C. No action shall be commenced under this section more than seven years after the later of the date on which the victim (i) was no longer subject to conduct prohibited by a felony provision of § 18.2-346, or under § 18.2-348, 18.2-349, 18.2-355, 18.2-356, 18.2-357, 18.2-357.1, or 18.2-368 or (ii) attained 18 years of age.


HOUSE BILL NO. 681
AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE
(Proposed by the Senate Committee for Courts of Justice
on February 22, 2016)
(Patron Prior to Substitute--Delegate Leftwich)
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 8.01-42.4, relating to trafficking in persons; civil action.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 8.01-42.4 as follows:

§ 8.01-42.4. Civil action for trafficking in persons.

A. As used in this section:

"Compensatory damages" includes damages for all of the defendant's acts prohibited under a felony provision of § 18.2-346, or under § 18.2-348, 18.2-349, 18.2-355, 18.2-356, 18.2-357, 18.2-357.1, or 18.2-368.

"Victim" means a person who was subjected to conduct that constituted trafficking in persons under a felony violation of § 18.2-346, or under § 18.2-348, 18.2-349, 18.2-355, 18.2-356, 18.2-357, 18.2-357.1, or 18.2-368, regardless of whether the perpetrator is identified, apprehended, prosecuted, or convicted.

B. A victim has a civil cause of action against the perpetrator of conduct to which the victim was subjected that is prohibited under a felony violation of § 18.2-346, or under § 18.2-348, 18.2-349, 18.2-355, 18.2-356, 18.2-357, 18.2-357.1, or 18.2-368, whether or not the perpetrator has been charged or convicted for the alleged violation, for the compensatory damages incurred by the victim as a result of that conduct, in addition to the attorney fees and costs for bringing the action. If compensatory damages are awarded, a victim may also be awarded punitive damages.

C. No action shall be commenced under this section more than seven years after the later of the date on which the victim (i) was no longer subject to conduct prohibited by a felony provision of § 18.2-346, or under § 18.2-348, 18.2-349, 18.2-355, 18.2-356, 18.2-357, 18.2-357.1, or 18.2-368 or (ii) attained 18 years of age.


HOUSE BILL NO. 681
AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE
(Proposed by the House Committee for Courts of Justice
on February 12, 2016)
(Patron Prior to Substitute--Delegate Leftwich)
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 8.01-42.4 , relating to trafficking in persons; civil action.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 8.01-42.4 as follows:

§ 8.01-42.4. Civil action for trafficking in persons.

A. Any person injured by reason of (i) a violation of clause (iii), (iv), or (v) of § 18.2-48; (ii) a violation of § 18.2-348, 18.2-349, 18.2-355, 18.2-356, 18.2-357, 18.2-357.1, or 18.2-368; or (iii) a felony violation of § 18.2-346 may sue therefor and recover compensatory damages, punitive damages, and reasonable attorney fees and costs.

B. No action shall be commenced under this section more than seven years after the later of the date on which such person (i) was no longer subject to the conduct prohibited by clause (iii), (iv), or (v) of § 18.2-48 or § 18.2-348, 18.2-349, 18.2-355, 18.2-356, 18.2-357, 18.2-357.1, or 18.2-368 or under a felony violation of § 18.2-346 or (ii) attained 18 years of age.

HOUSE BILL NO. 681

Offered January 13, 2016
Prefiled January 11, 2016
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 8.01-42.4, relating to trafficking in persons; civil action.
Patron-- Leftwich

Committee Referral Pending

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 8.01-42.4 as follows:

§ 8.01-42.4. Civil action for trafficking in persons.

A. As used in this section:

"Compensatory damages" includes damages for any act of the defendant that is prohibited under clause (iii), (iv), or (v) of § 18.2-48, that constitutes a felony violation of § 18.2-346, or that is prohibited under § 18.2-348, 18.2-349, 18.2-355, 18.2-356, 18.2-357, 18.2-357.1, or 18.2-368.

"Victim" means a person who was subjected to conduct that constitutes trafficking in persons under clause (iii), (iv), or (v) of § 18.2-48, under a felony provision of § 18.2-346, or under § 18.2-348, 18.2-349, 18.2-355, 18.2-356, 18.2-357, 18.2-357.1, or 18.2-368, regardless of whether the perpetrator is identified, apprehended, prosecuted, or convicted.

B. A victim has a civil cause of action against the perpetrator of conduct that is prohibited under clause (iii), (iv), or (v) of § 18.2-48, that constitutes a felony violation of § 18.2-346, or that is prohibited under § 18.2-348, 18.2-349, 18.2-355, 18.2-356, 18.2-357, 18.2-357.1, or 18.2-368, whether or not the perpetrator has been charged with or convicted of the alleged violation, for the compensatory damages incurred by the victim as a result of that conduct, in addition to the attorney fees and costs for bringing the action. If compensatory damages are awarded, a victim may also be awarded punitive damages.

C. No action shall be commenced under this section more than seven years after the later of the date on which the victim (i) was no longer subject to conduct prohibited under clause (iii), (iv), or (v) of § 18.2-48, under a felony provision of § 18.2-346, or under § 18.2-348, 18.2-349, 18.2-355, 18.2-356, 18.2-357, 18.2-357.1, or 18.2-368 or (ii) attained 18 years of age.