HB 2368 — An Act providing for standardized human trafficking screening and intervention protocols in health care facilities; imposing duties on the Department of Health; and providing for training and enforcement.

PRINTER'S NO.   3155

                    THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                        HOUSE BILL
                        No. 2368
                                                Session of
                                                  2026

     INTRODUCED BY BURGOS, McNEILL, WEBSTER, HILL-EVANS, OWLETT,
        HOHENSTEIN, KINKEAD, SANCHEZ AND STEELE, APRIL 8, 2026

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, APRIL 9, 2026


                                     AN ACT
 1   Providing for standardized human trafficking screening and
 2      intervention protocols in health care facilities; imposing
 3      duties on the Department of Health; and providing for
 4      training and enforcement.
 5      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 6   hereby enacts as follows:
 7   Section 1.   Short title.
 8      This act shall be known and may be cited as the Health Care
 9   Human Trafficking Screening and Intervention Act.
10   Section 2.   Definitions.
11      The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
12   have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
13   context clearly indicates otherwise:
14      "Department."   The Department of Health of the Commonwealth.
15      "Health care facility."     An emergency department of a
16   licensed hospital, an urgent care center or a community health
17   care center.
18      "Human trafficking."     As defined under 18 Pa.C.S. § 3001
19   (relating to definitions).
 1      "Protocols."     The standardized protocol established under
 2   section 3.
 3      "Trauma-informed care."     A health care framework that
 4   involves understanding, recognizing and responding to the
 5   effects of all types of trauma.
 6   Section 3.     Standardized protocols.
 7      (a)   Establishment.--Within 180 days of the effective date of
 8   this subsection, the department shall develop and publish
 9   standardized human trafficking screening and intervention
10   protocols for use by health care facilities.
11      (b)   Contents.--The protocols shall include:
12            (1)   Use of evidence-based, trauma-informed care
13      screening questions.
14            (2)   Requirements for health care providers to interview
15      patients alone in a secure environment if human trafficking
16      is suspected.
17            (3)   A standardized procedure to refer patients to
18      community-based victim service providers and legal resources.
19            (4)   Immediate steps for patient safety if the patient
20      chooses not to involve law enforcement.
21   Section 4.     Training requirements.
22      (a)   Mandatory training.--A health care facility shall ensure
23   that all clinical and patient-facing staff complete an initial
24   training program on the protocols within 90 days of hire.
25      (b)   Continuing education.--Staff under subsection (a) shall
26   complete a continuing education course on the protocols every
27   two years.
28      (c)   Development.--The department shall develop the training
29   and continuing education programs required under this section.
30   Section 5.     Enforcement and reporting.

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 1      (a)    Compliance.--The department shall verify compliance with
 2   this act during routine inspections of health care facilities.
 3      (b)    Data collection.--
 4             (1)   A health care facility shall annually report de-
 5      identified data to the department on the number of screenings
 6      performed and number of referrals made relating to human
 7      trafficking.
 8             (2)   The department shall annually submit a report to the
 9      General Assembly containing the data received under paragraph
10      (1).
11   Section 6.      Effective date.
12      This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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