BILL NUMBER: S8535

SPONSOR: SERINO
 
TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in
relation to establishing a sex trafficking awareness and prevention
program

 
PURPOSE:

To establish a sex tracking awareness and prevention program to help
educate commercial drivers on the warning signs of potential sex traf-
ficking.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: Directs the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles to establish a sex
trafficking awareness and prevention program in conjunction with the
Commissioner of the Division of Criminal Justice Services and the
Commissioner of Transportation. Such program will focus on educating
drivers with a commercial motor vehicle license on the warning signs of
potential sex trafficking and to whom they can report suspected activ-
              

ity.

Section 2: Establishes the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

According to the Polaris Project, which runs the National Human Traf-
ficking Hotline, New York State had the fifth most cases of human traf-
ficking reported to the hotline in 2016, with more than three-quarters
of such reports involving cases of sex trafficking.  Victims of sex
trafficking can face years of sexual and physical violence at the hands
of their traffickers, as well as their "customers," with little hope of
escape.

One issue with recognizing sex trafficking is that many mistake the
victims for willing prostitutes, and their traffickers may keep them on
the constant move in an effort to evade law enforcement, in many cases
operating out of truck stops and rest areas. The nonprofit organization
Truckers Against Trafficking recognized the unique role truck drivers
can play in identifying and reporting suspected cases of sex traffick-
ing, provided they have been educated on the signs of trafficking. This
legislation is based on their work, which has led to the identification
of more than 1,000 victims.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

Minimal.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.