2020 -- S 2816 | |
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LC003741 | |
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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 | |
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Introduced By: Senator Erin Lynch Prata | |
Date Introduced: March 12, 2020 | |
Referred To: Senate Judiciary | |
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 PREVENTION ACT |
5 | 5-14.1-1. Definitions. |
6 | (a) "Hotel" means any establishment defined in § 5-14-3. |
7 | (b) "Human trafficking" means the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of |
8 | labor or commercial sex act as defined in 22 U.S.C. § 7102. |
9 | (c) "Human trafficking awareness training" means a training that includes the following |
10 | components: |
11 | (1) The definition of human trafficking and commercial exploitation of children; |
12 | (2) Guidance on how to identify individuals at risk for trafficking; |
13 | (3) Guidance on how to identify the signs of trafficking and individuals potentially |
14 | engaged in the act of trafficking; |
15 | (4) Differences between labor and sex trafficking, specific to the hotel sector; |
16 | (5) Guidance on the role of hospitality employees in reporting and responding to this |
17 | issue; and |
18 | (6) The contact information for the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free number |
19 | and text line or contact information for the local law enforcement. |
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1 | (d) "Local law enforcement" means the local police department or Rhode Island state |
2 | police. |
3 | 5-14.1-2. Posting Requirements. |
4 | Every operator of a hotel shall post in a location conspicuous to employees human |
5 | trafficking awareness signage, printed in an easily legible font in English and any other language |
6 | spoken by at least ten percent (10%) of the employees. |
7 | 5-14.1-3. Policies and procedures for identifying and reporting. |
8 | Every operator of a hotel shall implement procedures for the reporting of suspected |
9 | human trafficking to the National Human Trafficking Hotline or to local law enforcement and |
10 | shall implement a human trafficking prevention policy which shall apply to all employees, which |
11 | shall include human trafficking awareness training. |
12 | 5-14.1-4. Recognition of human trafficking prevention efforts. |
13 | (a) An owner, operator or employee of a hotel who complies in good faith with this |
14 | section shall not be liable for any act or omission arising out of or related to human trafficking |
15 | committed by a third-party unless the owner, operator or employee of the hotel knowingly assists |
16 | the commission of human trafficking. |
17 | (b) For the purposes of this chapter, a good faith effort means that the hotel: |
18 | (1) Maintained signage as required by this chapter; and |
19 | (2) Implemented a human trafficking awareness prevention policy as required by this |
20 | chapter; and |
21 | (3) Conducted a training on human trafficking awareness in the twelve (12) months prior |
22 | to an alleged incident. |
23 | SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2021. |
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EXPLANATION | |
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL | |
OF | |
A N A C T | |
RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- HOTELS | |
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1 | This act would require all hotels to make a good faith effort to post human trafficking |
2 | awareness signage and provide all employees with human trafficking awareness training. |
3 | This act would take effect on January 1, 2021. |
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