A plan that could help people escape the horrors of human trafficking became law today.

Starting January 1, Illinois state government will post signs warning about the dangers of human trafficking and display the phone number of the national human trafficking hotline in high-traffic areas, such as truck stops, bus stations, train stations, airports and rest stops.

“Human trafficking victims are normally kept very tightly controlled,” said state Senator Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield). “Transit hubs are among the few places they are allowed out in public. A woman at a train station or truck stop might have the opportunity to seek help.”

More than one study has identified Chicago as a national hub of human trafficking, but exact numbers are hard to pinpoint. A 2007 study estimated that 16,000 to 25,000 women and girls are involved in the commercial sex trade in the Chicago metropolitan area, and at least some of them are likely victims of human trafficking.

Human trafficking isn’t limited to Chicago or the sex trade. For example, in 2005, federal authorities busted seven brothels in Rockford that exploited human trafficking victims. In addition, some victims are forced to perform labor rather than sex, essentially making them modern-day slaves.

The idea for the law came from 2014 media reports about failures at the Department of Children and Family Services.

“Some of the girls from DCFS residential treatment centers who ended up victims of prostitution talked about traveling through truck stops and bus stations,” Morrison said. “The state absolutely failed these young women. We need to fix the problems at DCFS and help anyone else who finds themselves in these girls’ situations.”

Morrison’s plan was supported by a broad coalition of human service groups, including the Illinois chapters of the National Association of Social Workers, the Catholic Conference and Foster Care Alumni of America.

The legislation was Senate Bill 43.