Sen. Mike Padden today assured members of the state’s Latino Civic Alliance that he and other lawmakers remain committed to the fight against sex traffickers.

“After your visit in 2013 the Legislature made our state’s already-substantial laws even stronger, so law-enforcement officers would have even more tools to use against those who would victimize your children,” said Padden, R-Spokane Valley. “But the traffickers come up with new approaches, and state law must evolve too.”

As proof Padden pointed to four Senate bills that cleared the Senate Law and Justice Committee already this year: Senate Bill 6017 is now before the Senate budget committee, while Senate Bill 6339, Senate Bill 6434 and Senate Bill 6435 have been sent to the rules committee, which selects legislation to go on the Senate voting calendar.

“The protection of our children is everyone’s responsibility,” said Padden, who chairs the law and justice committee, “and each of us has a role: the Legislature, through the laws it makes; the officers who enforce those laws in our communities, and the community leaders and parents who are in the best position to notice when children are being targeted.”

Today is Latino Legislative Day at the Capitol. Padden spoke to a large group of participants in the Capitol Rotunda, as he had in 2013.

“I am encouraged by the Latino community’s continuing interest in the battle against those who would press the children of our state into sexual slavery. My commitment to this fight also will not waver,” said Padden, who served 12 years as a Spokane County District Court judge before he was elected to the Senate from the 4th Legislative District in 2011.

Since Padden became chairman of the Senate Law and Justice Committee in 2013, Washington’s efforts have received the highest possible marks from a Vancouver-based leader in global efforts to eradicate sex trafficking.

In recognition of legislation introduced by Padden that became law in 2013, Shared Hope International announced in November that Washington now rates an “A” grade, up one step from the state’s 2012 grade in SHI’s “Protected Innocence Challenge.”

“While the fight to end the commercial sexual exploitation of children may never end, unfortunately, it’s a fight that also brings the Legislature together like no other issue,” said Padden, noting the four anti-trafficking bills still moving through the Senate have solid bipartisan sponsorship and support.

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