ATLANTA—House Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) recently appointed state Representative Buzz Brockway (R-Lawrenceville) as a member of the Joint Human Trafficking Study Commission. This commission is charged with evaluating current law and policies related to human trafficking in Georgia and determining the effectiveness of the state’s efforts to alleviate the crime.
“I’m honored Speaker Ralston appointed me to the Human Trafficking Study Committee,” said Rep. Buzz Brockway. “I look forward to working with the other members of the Study Committee on this very important issue. Human Trafficking is a brutal crime and every part of our community can play a role in providing the victims the help they need.”
The Joint Human Trafficking Study Commission was created by House Resolution 1151 during this year’s legislative session. The commission was created after an FBI investigation named Atlanta as one of the 14 cities with the highest incidence of child prostitution. The commission is composed of 13 members: 3 members from the House of Representatives, 3 members from the Senate, a local police chief, a district attorney, a juvenile court judge, a superior court judge, a public defender, an individual with expertise in advocacy for children who are sexually exploited, and an individual with expertise in advocacy for adult victims of human trafficking.
Speaker Ralston also appointed state Rep. Edward Lindsey (R-Atlanta) and state Rep. Alisha Thomas Morgan (D-Austell) to the joint commission.
Together, these legislators will work with the other commission members to create a comprehensive system of services for all victims of human trafficking that will enable these individuals to recover from their exploitation. Experts will evaluate models of service from other states to recommend an appropriate framework for use in Georgia. The commission members will then review the expert findings and recommend any action or legislation that they see fit.
Representative Buzz Brockway represents the citizens of District 101, which includes portions of Gwinnett County. He was elected into the House of Representatives in 2010, and currently serves on the Insurance, Governmental Affairs, and the Children & Youth committees.
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