2020 -- H 7550 | |
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LC003971 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2020 | |
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A N A C T | |
RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- HOTELS--HUMAN TRAFFICKING | |
REPORTING AND PREVENTION ACT | |
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Introduced By: Representatives Diaz, Barros, Alzate, Shanley, and Tobon | |
Date Introduced: February 12, 2020 | |
Referred To: House Corporations | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
1 | SECTION 1. Title 5 of the General Laws entitled "BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS" |
2 | is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter: |
3 | CHAPTER 14.1 |
4 | THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING REPORTING AND PREVENTION ACT |
5 | 5-14.1-1. Definitions. |
6 | As used in this chapter: |
7 | (1) “Hotel” shall mean any establishment defined in § 5-14-3. |
8 | (2) “Human trafficking” means the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of |
9 | labor or commercial sex act as defined in 22 USC § 7102 and the commission of an offense |
10 | created by §§ 11-67.1-3 through 11-67.1-7. |
11 | (3) “Human trafficking awareness training” means a training that includes the following |
12 | components: |
13 | (i) The definition of human trafficking and commercial exploitation of children; |
14 | (ii) Guidance on how to identify individuals at risk for trafficking; |
15 | (iii) Guidance on how to identify the signs of trafficking and individuals potentially |
16 | engaged in the act of trafficking; |
17 | (iv) Differences between labor and sex trafficking, specific to the hotel sector; |
18 | (v) Guidance on the role of hospitality employees in reporting and responding to this |
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1 | issue; and |
2 | (vi) The contact information for the National Human Trafficking Hotline tollfree number |
3 | and text line or contact information for the local law enforcement. |
4 | (4) “Local law enforcement” means the local city or town police department or the Rhode |
5 | Island state police. |
6 | 5-14.1-2. Posting requirements. |
7 | Every operator of a hotel shall post in a location conspicuous to employees human |
8 | trafficking awareness signage, printed in an easily legible font in English and any other language |
9 | spoken by at least ten percent (10%) of the employees. |
10 | 5-14.1-3. Policies and procedures for identifying and reporting. |
11 | Every operator of a hotel shall implement procedures for the reporting of suspected |
12 | human trafficking to the National Human Trafficking Hotline or to local law enforcement and |
13 | shall implement a human trafficking prevention policy which shall apply to all employees. |
14 | 5-14.1-4. Recognition of human trafficking prevention efforts. |
15 | (a) An owner, operator or employee of a hotel who complies in good faith with this |
16 | chapter shall not be liable for any act or omission arising out of or related to human trafficking |
17 | committed by a third-party unless the owner, operator or employee of the hotel knowingly assists |
18 | the commission of human trafficking. |
19 | (b) For the purposes of this chapter, a good faith effort shall mean that the hotel: |
20 | (1) Maintained signage as required by § 5-14.1-2; and |
21 | (2) Implemented a human trafficking awareness prevention policy as required in § 5- |
22 | 14.1-3; and |
23 | (3) Conducted a training on human trafficking awareness in the twelve (12) months prior |
24 | to an alleged incident. |
25 | SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2021. |
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LC003971 | |
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EXPLANATION | |
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL | |
OF | |
A N A C T | |
RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- HOTELS--HUMAN TRAFFICKING | |
REPORTING AND PREVENTION ACT | |
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1 | This act would create the Human Trafficking Reporting and Prevention Act applicable to |
2 | hotels, requiring them to educate their employees about identifying, reporting and preventing |
3 | human trafficking, on their premises. |
4 | This act would take effect on January 1, 2021. |
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LC003971 | |
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