SB448

Senate Bill 448 amends the definition of "serious harm" within the Arkansas Human Trafficking Act of 2013. The bill clarifies that "serious harm" encompasses physical and nonphysical harm, explicitly including psychological, financial, or reputational harm. The definition is intended to cover harm that would be sufficient to compel a reasonable person in the victim's position to perform labor, services, or sexual acts to avoid such harm. By refining this terminology, the bill aims to ensure that the legal definition accurately captures the various forms of coercion used by human traffickers. The language change removes restrictive modifiers, broadening the scope of what constitutes coercion under the act.