About a dozen lawmakers Wednesday supported the need for more legislation to combat human trafficking for the issue's January month of awareness.
The lawmakers were joined by Louise Allison, the executive director of Partners Against Human Trafficking, who said 80 percent of the victims found in the state are born and raised here. The sponsor of a 2013 law that strengthened penalties for traffickers, Rep. David Meeks, R-Conway, said the state went from having some of the weakest laws in the nation to having some of the toughest against human trafficking.
Meeks said there is still room for improvement, and he has filed House Bill 1013 to expand the law against Internet stalking of a child. Rep. James Sturch, R-Batesville, said he is still in the drafting stages of a bill to offer more education for teachers and college students to recognize victims of human trafficking.
-- John Moritz