2025 -- H 5563

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LC001986

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING

PREVENTION NOTICE ACT

     Introduced By: Representatives Dawson, McEntee, Furtado, Kazarian, and Boylan

     Date Introduced: February 26, 2025

     Referred To: House Corporations

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. The title of Chapter 5-14.1 of the General Laws entitled "The Human

Trafficking Prevention Notice Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:

CHAPTER 5-14.1

The Human Trafficking Prevention Notice Act

CHAPTER 5-14.1

THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING PREVENTION NOTICE AND TRAINING ACT

     SECTION 2. Section 5-14.1-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-14.1 entitled "The Human

Trafficking Prevention Notice Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     5-14.1-1. Definitions.

     As used in this chapter:

     (1) "Department" means the department of business regulation

     (1)(2) “Hotel” shall mean any establishment defined in § 5-14-3.

     (2)(3) “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 and the commission of an offense

created by §§ 11-67.1-3 through 11-67.1-7.

     (4) “Human trafficking awareness training” means training established or approved by the

department that includes, but is not limited to, the following components:

     (i) The definition of human trafficking and commercial exploitation of children;

     (ii) Guidance on how to identify individuals at risk for trafficking;

     (iii) Guidance on how to identify the signs of trafficking and individuals potentially

engaged in the act of trafficking;

     (iv) Differences between labor and sex trafficking, specific to the hotel sector;

     (v) Guidance on the role of hospitality employees in reporting and responding to this issue;

and

     (vi) The contact information for the national human trafficking hotline toll-free number

and text line or contact information for the local law enforcement agency.

     (5) “Short-term rental property” means a residential unit used or offered for tourist or

transient use through a hosting platform, as such terms are defined in § 42-63.1-2.

     SECTION 3. Chapter 5-14.1 of the General Laws entitled "The Human Trafficking

Prevention Notice Act" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following sections:

     5-14.1-3. Training; policies and procedures.

     (a) Every employee of a hotel and every operator of a short-term rental property in this

state shall be required to receive human trafficking awareness training within one hundred eighty

(180) days of employment or the first listing of a short-term rental property on a hosting platform,

and after the first year of employment or listing, annual human trafficking awareness training not

later than December 31.

     (b) Every operator of a hotel or short-term rental property in this state shall implement

procedures and adopt policies for the reporting of suspected human trafficking to the national

human trafficking hotline or to a local law enforcement agency.

     5-14.1-3. Record keeping.

     (a) Any person who operates a hotel or short-term rental property shall maintain records of

employee or operator training. Such records shall be kept on file by the operator of the hotel or

short-term rental property for the period during which the employee is employed by the

establishment or the operator manages the short-term rental property listing, and for one year after

such employment or operation ends. A hotel or short-term rental property operator shall provide

records to the department within a reasonable amount of time, but no later than ten (10) business

days, after such request is made in writing.

     SECTION 4. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2026.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING

PREVENTION NOTICE ACT

***

     This act would require hotel employees and short-term rental property operators to

annually receive human trafficking awareness training.

     This act would take effect on January 1, 2026.

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