(Missourinet) – A key state senator says Missouri is a “hotspot” for human trafficking.

State Sen. Jamilah Nasheed, D-St. Louis, will testify Monday afternoon in Jefferson City before the Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee.

The St. Louis Democrat will present her bill, which relates to human trafficking.

Nasheed’s legislation would allow those forced into prostitution against their will to have their criminal records relating to prostitution erased, upon court approval.

“Those forced into prostitution are victims and we should be trying to help them,” Nasheed says.

She describes it as modern-day slavery.

Senator Nasheed will also hold a rally at the Missouri Capitol at 1 p.m. Tuesday, as part of her sex trafficking awareness day.

Attorney General Josh Hawley, R, told Missourinet this month that human trafficking is a “scourge” that touches every corner of Missouri.

During that interview, Hawley noted more than 70 law enforcement officers served 18 warrants across southwest Missouri in July.

Hawley said the raids shut down 13 businesses that were “acting as fronts for human trafficking.” He said agents were able to liberate about ten young women, from an organized crime ring that stretches back to East Asia.

Hawley also confirmed there are active human trafficking investigations in other parts of Missouri.