OKLAHOMA CITY – A bill that would help educate public school and college students on the dangers of sex trafficking and exploitation passed the House today.

House Bill 2396 by Rep. Todd Russ, R-Cordell, would make well-defined sex trafficking prevention awareness materials available to students in grades seven through 12 in Oklahoma public schools and to their parents, and would require state universities and colleges to provide the material during freshman orientation and/or two other times during the academic year. The bill specifies that the materials would be provided by nonprofits that specialize in outreach and education programs on sex trafficking and exploitation prevention.

“Our young people need to be made aware of the dangers that exist in our world and even in Oklahoma, from people who would seek to do great harm,” Russ said. “At the same time, we want to make sure that the providers of this material are those that specialize in the subject matter and that are sensitive to the values of Oklahoma parents.”

HB 2396 is a revision of a measure that passed last year but that did not make it through the legislative process because of COVID. The measure passed today with a vote of 86-6. It now moves to the state Senate where the author is Sen. Brenda Stanley, R-Midwest City.