Senate Bill #408 (2021)

AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- HOTELS -- HUMAN TRAFFICKING REPORTING AND PREVENTION ACT

Requires all hotels to make a good faith effort to post human trafficking awareness signage and provide all employees with human trafficking awareness training.

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Changes since original draft

  • 2021 – S 0408
  • 2021 – S 0408 SUBSTITUTE A
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  • LC001617
  • LC001617/SUB A
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  • S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
  • IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
  • JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021
  • JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021
  • ____________
  • A N A C T
  • RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS – HOTELS
  • RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS – HOTELS – HUMAN TRAFFICKING
  • REPORTING AND PREVENTION ACT
  • Introduced By: Senators Quezada, Lawson, Kallman, and Murray
  • Date Introduced: February 25, 2021
  • Referred To: Senate Judiciary
  • It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
  • SECTION 1. Title 5 of the General Laws entitled "BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:
  • CHAPTER 14.1
  • THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING PREVENTION ACT
  • 5-14.1-1. Short Title.
  • This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Human Trafficking Prevention Act".
  • 5-14.1-2. Definitions.
  • (a) "Hotel" means any establishment defined in § 5-14-3.
  • (b) "Human trafficking" means the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act as defined in 22 U.S.C. § 7102.
  • (c) "Human trafficking awareness training" means a training that includes the following components:
  • (1) The definition of human trafficking and commercial exploitation of children;
  • (2) Guidance on how to identify individuals at risk for trafficking;
  • (3)Guidanceonhowtoidentifythesignsoftraffickingandindividualspotentiallyengaged in the act of trafficking;
  • (4) Differences between labor and sex trafficking, specific to the hotel sector;
  • (5) Guidance on the role of hospitality employees in reporting and responding to this issue; and
  • (6) The contact information for the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free number and text line or contact information for the local law enforcement.
  • (d) "Local law enforcement" means the local police department or Rhode Island state police.
  • 5-14.1-3. Posting Requirements.
  • Every operator of a hotel shall post in a location conspicuous to employees human trafficking awareness signage, printed in an easily legible font in English and any other language spoken by at least ten percent (10%) of the employees.
  • 5-14.1-4. Policies and procedures for identifying and reporting.
  • Every operator of a hotel shall implement procedures for the reporting of suspected human trafficking to the National Human Trafficking Hotline or to local law enforcement and shall implement a human trafficking prevention policy which shall apply to all employees, which shall include human trafficking awareness training.
  • 5-14.1-5. Recognition of human trafficking prevention efforts.
  • (a) An owner, operator or employee of a hotel who complies in good faith with this section shall not be liable for any act or omission arising out of or related to human trafficking committed by a third-party unless the owner, operator or employee of the hotel knowingly assists the commission of human trafficking.
  • (b) For the purposes of this chapter, a good faith effort means that the hotel:
  • (1) Maintained signage as required by this chapter; and
  • (2) Implemented a human trafficking awareness prevention policy as required by this chapter; and
  • (3) Conducted a training on human trafficking awareness in the twelve (12) months prior to an alleged incident.
  • SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2022.
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  • LC001617
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  • EXPLANATION
  • THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING PREVENTION NOTICE ACT
  • 5-14.1-1. Definitions.
  • As used in this chapter:
  • (1) "Hotel" shall mean any establishment defined in § 5-14-3.
  • (2) "Human trafficking" means the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act as defined in 22 USC § 7102 and the commission of an offense created by §§ 11-67.1-3 through 11-67.1-7.
  • 5-14.1-2. Posting requirements.
  • (a) Every operator of a hotel shall post in a location conspicuous to employees human trafficking awareness signage, printed in an easily legible font in English and any other language spoken by at least ten percent (10%) of the employees.
  • (b) The notice shall provide information regarding the National Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline and substantially state as follows: "If you or someone you know is being forced to engage in any work or commercial sexual activity and cannot leave, call the toll-free National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 to access help and services. The toll-free hotline is:
  • (1) Available twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week;
  • (2) Operated by a nonprofit, nongovernmental organization;
  • (3) Anonymous and confidential;
  • (4) Accessible in one hundred seventy (170) languages; and
  • (5) Able to provide help, referral to services, training, and general information."
  • SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2022. ======== LC001617/SUB A ========
  • EXPLANATION
  • BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
  • OF
  • OF
  • A N A C T
  • RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS – HOTELS
  • RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS – HOTELS – HUMAN TRAFFICKING
  • REPORTING AND PREVENTION ACT
  • ***
  • This act would require all hotels to make a good faith effort to post human trafficking awareness signage and provide all employees with human trafficking awareness training.
  • This act would take effect on January 1, 2022. ======== LC001617 ========
  • This act would create the Human Trafficking Prevention Notice Act applicable to hotels, requiring them to post in a location conspicuous to their employees human trafficking awareness signage on their premises.
  • This act would take effect on January 1, 2022. ======== LC001617/SUB A ========

Votes

NOTE: Electronic voting records are unofficial and may not be accurate. For an official vote tally, check the House or Senate Journal from the day of the vote.

Floor vote for PREVENTION ACT

June 24, 2021 at 4:51pm
Yeas: 37 / Nays: 0 / Not voting: 1 / Recused: 0
Legislator Vote
Sen. Acosta Y
Sen. Algiere Y
Sen. Anderson Y
Sen. Archambault Y
Sen. Bell Y
Sen. Burke Y
Sen. Calkin Y
Sen. Cano Y
Sen. Ciccone Y
Sen. Coyne Y
Sen. Cruz Y
Sen. DiMario Y
Sen. DiPalma Y
Sen. Euer Y
Sen. Felag Y
Sen. Gallo Y
Sen. Goldin Y
Sen. Goodwin Y
Sen. Kallman Y
Sen. Lawson Y
Sen. Lombardi Y
Sen. Lombardo Y
Sen. Mack Y
Sen. McCaffrey Y
Sen. Mendes Y
Sen. Miller Y
Sen. Morgan Y
Sen. Murray Y
Sen. Paolino Y
Sen. Pearson Y
Sen. Picard Y
Sen. Quezada NV
Sen. Raptakis Y
Sen. Rogers Y
Sen. Ruggerio Y
Sen. Seveney Y
Sen. Sosnowski Y
Sen. Valverde Y