Georgia Sets Anti-Trafficking Training For Employees, Others

Georgia is offering a new online training course to educate people on how to recognize human trafficking and how to take action if someone spots it.

Gov. Brian Kemp and first lady Marty Kemp announced the plan Monday.

Kemp said he will mandate that all members of his staff take the training and said he will encourage the heads of state agencies to mandate it for almost 80,000 state employees.

“That’s 80,000 boots on the ground ready to help a victim if needed,” Marty Kemp told supporters at the state Capitol.

The half-hour video course is also available to the general public, and Kemp said she hoped churches, civic groups and others would encourage their members to view it.

Marty Kemp said her husband also planned legislative proposals to combat human trafficking but didn’t give details. The Republican governor has been talking about the issue as one of his top priorities for this year, saying he would toughen laws to stop people from being exploited.

Brian Kemp created a commission last February co-chaired by his wife to tackle the issue.

The Georgia Public Safety Training Center will also host two self-defense classes on Jan. 30 at the Capitol as part of the human trafficking push. The classes are open to the public, but registration is required for limited spaces.