2019 -- H 5650

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LC000841

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- TRAFFICKING OF PERSONS AND

INVOLUNTARY SERVITUDE

     Introduced By: Representatives Roberts, Chippendale, Quattrocchi, Ackerman, and
Nardone

     Date Introduced: February 27, 2019

     Referred To: House Special Legislation

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 11-67.1-20 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-67.1 entitled

"Uniform Act on Prevention of and Remedies for Human Trafficking" is hereby amended to read

as follows:

     11-67.1-20. Display of public-awareness sign -- Penalty for failure to display.

     (a)(1) The Rhode Island department of transportation and any Any public-awareness sign

that contains the state and national human trafficking resource center hotline information in every

transportation station, rest area, and welcome center in the state that is open to the public.

     (2) The required public awareness sign must be at least eight and one-half inches by

eleven inches (8 ½" x 11") in size, must be printed in at least sixteen (16) point type, and must

state substantially the following in English and Spanish:

     "If you or someone you know is being forced to engage in an activity and cannot leave,

whether it is prostitution, housework, farm work, factory work, retail work, restaurant work, or

other activity, call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at 1-888-373-7888 or text

INFO or HELP to 233-733 to access help and services. Victims of slavery and human trafficking

are protected under United States and Rhode Island law.

     Posted pursuant to chapter 67.1 of title 11."

     (b) An employer shall display the public-awareness sign described in subsection (a) of

this section in a place that is clearly conspicuous and visible to employees and the public at each

of the following locations in this state at which the employer has employees:

     (1) A strip club or other sexually-oriented business;

     (2) A business entity previously found to be a nuisance for prostitution;

     (3) A job-recruitment center;

     (4) A hospital; or

     (5) An emergency-care provider.

     (c) The department of labor and training shall impose a fine of three hundred dollars

($300) per violation on an employer that knowingly fails to comply with subsection (b) of this

section. The fine shall be the exclusive remedy for failure to comply.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- TRAFFICKING OF PERSONS AND

INVOLUNTARY SERVITUDE

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     This act would provide specific language for signs to be posted at certain establishments

notifying people of contact information to the national human trafficking resource center and

delete the provision enabling the department of labor and training to impose fines for failure to

post signage.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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