New anti-human trafficking legislation was introduced at the state Capitol today.

The bill, introduced by state Rep. Frederick Kessler, D-Milwaukee, and state Rep. Suzanne Jeskewitz, R-Menomonee Falls, will add Wisconsin to the list of 35 other states that have passed anti-human trafficking legislation. State Sen. Glenn Grothman, R-West Bend, and state Sen. Spencer Coggs, D-Milwaukee, also sponsored the bill.

Though anti-human trafficking legislation has been in place in Wisconsin since the U.S. Congress passed the Trafficking Victims Protection Act in 2000, prosecuting offenders has proved difficult, according to a release by the bill’s sponsors.

“Federal law enforcement officials do not have the resources to adequately prosecute these cases,” said Linda Morrison, executive director of the Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault, in a statement.

In addition to the lack of federal resources to prosecute cases, the multi-faceted nature of human trafficking makes prosecuting using only criminal statutes very difficult, according to Mike Murray, Policy Specialist with WCASA.

Murray said that human trafficking is much more complex than just being forced to the U.S. against one’s will.

“For a lot of people being trafficked internationally, they are brought [and] told they have a decent job that complies with federal labor laws, but end up being forced into the sex trade in prostitution or strip clubs,” Murray said.

These victims do not come forward for fear of retribution by the company that brought them here, according to Murray. “They live in fear of being harmed or killed or having their family members back home be harmed or killed,” Murray said.

Though the bill was just introduced today, it is expected to be strongly supported by both Republicans and Democrats, according to the release by the bill’s sponsors.

“We still have a ways to go, but this bill is a much needed first step to making progress on this issue in the state,” Murray said.