Sen. Mike Padden is bringing the Senate Law and Justice Committee to Spokane for a public meeting Nov. 12. Padden, R-Spokane Valley, encourages area residents to come and participate as his committee continues leading the Legislature’s battle against the sex-trafficking industry in Washington.

The Senate panel will meet from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the Gonzaga University School of Law’s Moot Courtroom, at 721 N. Cincinnati St.

“We’ll devote much of our session in Spokane to the progress made this year on an issue that has brought our state Legislature together like no other: the fight against human trafficking and sexual slavery,” said Padden, who is committee chairman. “This sordid industry damages families and communities across our state, and talking about it in public, as our committee will do on November 12, is part of raising awareness and ultimately turning the tide.”

The committee will also receive a briefing on another important issue: how patent law affects employers in key Washington industries.

“For companies in the technology business or the life-sciences business, the relationship between patent law and the protection of intellectual property is a serious matter – and it’s something we as policy-makers need to understand as well,” Padden said.

Padden, who also had his committee’s September and October meetings away from the Capitol, noted legislative panels don’t often meet in the Inland Northwest.

“This will be a convenient opportunity for area residents to see their fellow citizens working as legislators on issues that are far-reaching,” Padden added.

The committee meeting in Spokane comes about seven months after Washington lawmakers gave their unanimous support to Senate Bill 5669, Padden’s comprehensive strike against the sex-trafficking industry.

“Our state is a leader in the nationwide effort to turn the tide against the scourge of sexual slavery, which demeans human beings, especially young girls, by treating them as commodities,” Padden said. “Our upcoming meeting at Gonzaga will look at what this new law means, now that it’s been in effect for a few months, and the steps lawmakers should consider taking next.”