ABOUT THE REPORT

In recent years an increasing number of states have passed laws requiring lodging facilities to combat human trafficking. These laws take various forms and present a sometimes-confusing array of requirements that present a challenge to owners and operators of lodging facilities seeking to satisfy them.

To help clarify the situation and facilitate legal compliance, ECPAT-USA, unpacked these laws by preparing a survey of all the applicable state legislation currently in effect.

Posters that comply with the various laws as well as additional resources for hospitality brands, management companies, and properties are available on ECPAT-USA’s website. For states that do not have a human trafficking awareness signage requirement ECPAT-USA’s Standard Hotel Poster can be utilized.

KEY FINDINGS

• 13 states mandate human trafficking awareness signage in lodging facilities:

  California, Connecticut, Georgia, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, West Virginia

• 7 mandate human trafficking awareness signage in lodging facilities that have been cited as a public nuisance:

  Alabama, Arkansas, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island

• 12 states recommend human trafficking awareness signage in lodging facilities:

  Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin

• 14 states have penalties for failing to meet the human trafficking awareness signage mandates:

  Alabama, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Georgia, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina

• 4 states mandate human trafficking awareness for individuals working in the lodging industry:

  California, Connecticut, Minnesota, New Jersey

• 11 states recommend human trafficking awareness training for individuals working in the lodging industry:

  Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont

Article from: https://www.ecpatusa.org/unpackinghumantrafficking