S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
3039
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 2, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. FAHY -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to establishing
a sex trafficking awareness and prevention program
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new
section 224-b to read as follows:
§ 224-B. SEX TRAFFICKING AWARENESS AND PREVENTION PROGRAM. (A) THE
COMMISSIONER, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE ON HUMAN
TRAFFICKING, THE COMMISSIONER OF THE DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SERVICES AND THE COMMISSIONER OF TRANSPORTATION, SHALL DEVELOP A SEX
TRAFFICKING AWARENESS AND PREVENTION PROGRAM. THE SEX TRAFFICKING AWARE-
NESS AND PREVENTION PROGRAM SHALL BE ESTABLISHED FOR THE PURPOSE OF
PROVIDING EDUCATION AND AWARENESS FOR THE PREVENTION OF SEX TRAFFICKING
IN THIS STATE. WITHIN AMOUNTS APPROPRIATED, THE PROGRAM SHALL PROVIDE
EDUCATION AND AWARENESS LITERATURE AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS TO ALL
DRIVERS WITH A COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE LICENSE AS DEFINED IN SECTION
FIVE HUNDRED ONE-A OF THIS CHAPTER. THE MATERIALS SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT
BE LIMITED TO, WARNING SIGNS OF POTENTIAL SEX TRAFFICKING AND ENTITIES
TO WHOM A DRIVER MAY REPORT SUSPECTED ACTIVITY THAT MIGHT CONSTITUTE SEX
TRAFFICKING. THE COMMISSIONER MAY COORDINATE WITH THE INTERAGENCY TASK
FORCE ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN PROVIDING RELEVANT LITERATURE AND MATERI-
ALS TO SUCH DRIVERS.
(B) THE COMMISSIONER MAY ADDITIONALLY COORDINATE WITH THE INTERAGENCY
TASK FORCE ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING: (I) TO COLLECT AND ORGANIZE DATA ON THE
NATURE AND EXTENT OF TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS IN THE STATE; (II) TO IDEN-
TIFY AVAILABLE FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL PROGRAMS TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO
VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING; (III) TO CONSULT WITH GOVERNMENTAL AND NON-GO-
VERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS IN DEVELOPING RECOMMENDATIONS TO STRENGTHEN
STATE AND LOCAL EFFORTS TO PREVENT TRAFFICKING; (IV) TO MEASURE AND
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04119-01-3
A. 3039 2
EVALUATE THE STATE'S PROGRESS IN PREVENTING TRAFFICKING, AND PROSECUTING
PERSONS ENGAGED IN TRAFFICKING; AND (V) TO EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF
THE SEX TRAFFICKING AWARENESS AND PREVENTION PROGRAM.
(C) THE COMMISSIONER SHALL REPORT ANNUALLY ON THE PROGRAM'S EFFECTIVE-
NESS IN ITS ANNUAL REPORT.
(D) FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, "INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE ON HUMAN
TRAFFICKING" SHALL MEAN THE INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING
ESTABLISHED BY SECTION FOUR HUNDRED EIGHTY-THREE-EE OF THE SOCIAL
SERVICES LAW.
(E) TO EFFECTUATE THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE COMMISSIONER MAY
REQUEST AND SHALL RECEIVE FROM ANY DEPARTMENT, DIVISION, BOARD, BUREAU,
COMMISSION OR OTHER AGENCY OF THE STATE OR ANY STATE PUBLIC AUTHORITY
SUCH ASSISTANCE, INFORMATION AND DATA AS WILL ENABLE THE SEX TRAFFICKING
AWARENESS AND PREVENTION PROGRAM TO PROPERLY CARRY OUT ITS POWERS AND
DUTIES.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
have become a law; provided, however, subdivision (c) of section 224-b
of the vehicle and traffic law, as added by section one of this act,
shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have
become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or
repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of
this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed
on or before such effective date.