AUGUSTA — A Maine senator says a proposed law would make it easier to issue protection from abuse orders for victims of human trafficking.

Sen. Amy Volk, a Cumberland Republican, says protection orders in the state can be filed against family, household members or a dating partner. She says abusers do not always meet the criteria in human trafficking cases.

Volk is submitting her bill to the Legislature on Wednesday. She says the proposed law change would provide protection from abuse orders for human trafficking victims when there is no domestic connection in the case.

Volk says the change is important for the state to crack down on sex trafficking and abuse in the commercial sex trade.