S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
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9618
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 21, 2026
___________
Introduced by M. of A. P. CARROLL -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Governmental Operations
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to requisite training
instruction for police officers for crimes involving human traffick-
ing; and to amend the transportation law, in relation to requisite
training for entities providing public transportation
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 214-d of the executive law, as added by chapter
368 of the laws of 2015, is amended to read as follows:
§ 214-d. Human trafficking awareness. The superintendent, in consulta-
tion with the office of temporary and disability assistance and the
division of criminal justice services, shall:
[(1) develop] 1. DEVELOP, maintain and disseminate to all members of
the state police, including new and veteran officers, written policies,
procedures and educational materials relating to human trafficking
victims, including services available for victims of human trafficking,
as referenced in section four hundred eighty-three-bb of the social
services law; and
[(2) establish] 2. ESTABLISH and implement written procedures and
policies in the event a member of the division of state police encount-
ers an individual believed to be a victim of human trafficking, which
shall include, but not be limited to, the provision of information
and/or referral to an appropriate provider of social and legal services
to human trafficking victims, in accordance with [such] section four
hundred eighty-three-bb OF THE SOCIAL SERVICES LAW; AND
3. CONSULT WITH THE MUNICIPAL POLICE TRAINING COUNCIL REGARDING THE
DEVELOPMENT OF POLICE TRAINING COURSES RELATED TO THE HANDLING, RESPONSE
PROCEDURES, INVESTIGATION, AND PROSECUTION OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING CASES.
§ 2. Subdivision 8 of section 840 of the executive law, as added by
chapter 632 of the laws of 2025 is renumbered subdivision 9 and a new
subdivision 10 is added to read as follows:
10. THE COUNCIL SHALL, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE
STATE POLICE, DEVELOP POLICIES AND PROCEDURES REQUIRING TRAINING AND
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14414-02-6
A. 9618 2
INSTRUCTION FOR ALL POLICE OFFICERS WITH RESPECT TO CRIMES INVOLVING
HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND REGARDING THE HANDLING OF SITUATIONS INVOLVING
INDIVIDUALS WHO APPEAR TO BE VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING. SUCH POLICIES
AND PROCEDURES SHALL MAKE PROVISIONS FOR THE EDUCATION AND TRAINING OF
NEW AND VETERAN POLICE OFFICERS. SUCH TRAINING AND EDUCATION SHALL FOCUS
ON APPROPRIATE RECOGNITION AND RESPONSE TECHNIQUES FOR HANDLING MATTERS
INVOLVING VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING, INCLUDING, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO
A DEMONSTRATION OF AND INFORMATION REGARDING KNOWN SIGNS AND SIGNALS
THAT MAY BE USED OR COMMUNICATED BY VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING SEEKING
ASSISTANCE OR MAY BE OBSERVED BY INDIVIDUALS IN PUBLIC SPACES, UNDER-
STANDING ABUSE TRAUMA AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ISSUES CONFRONTED BY SUCH CRIME
VICTIMS, COMMON ATTRIBUTES OF OFFENDERS, FAIR TREATMENT STANDARDS FOR
CRIME VICTIMS PURSUANT TO ARTICLE TWENTY-THREE OF THIS CHAPTER, EVIDENCE
GATHERING AND PRESERVATION ISSUES, INTERVIEW TECHNIQUES AND INFORMATION
CONCERNING THE AVAILABILITY OF LOCAL SERVICES FOR THE VICTIMS OF SUCH
CRIMES. THESE COURSES SHALL BE REVIEWED AT LEAST ONCE EVERY TWO YEARS
AND MODIFIED FROM TIME TO TIME AS NEED MAY REQUIRE. ALL NEW OFFICERS
SHALL RECEIVE SUCH TRAINING AND INSTRUCTION, AS PART OF THE BASIC
CURRICULUM AT THE STATE POLICE ACADEMY OR AT MUNICIPAL POLICE ACADEMIES,
AS APPLICABLE. SUCH REQUIRED TRAINING FOR CURRENT OFFICERS SHALL BE
COMPLETED WITHIN THIRTY-SIX MONTHS OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SUBDI-
VISION; PROVIDED HOWEVER IT SHALL BE COMPLETED WITHIN TWENTY-FOUR MONTHS
OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SUBDIVISION IN A CITY WITH A POPULATION OF
ONE MILLION OR MORE.
§ 3. The transportation law is amended by adding a new section 14-o to
read as follows:
§ 14-O. HUMAN TRAFFICKING RECOGNITION AND TRAINING PROGRAM. 1. FOR
PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, "PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY" SHALL MEAN
EACH TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY OR TRANSIT AUTHORITY SUBJECT TO THE
PROVISIONS OF THE PUBLIC AUTHORITIES LAW OR THE PROVISIONS OF THIS CHAP-
TER, PROVIDED THAT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL NOT APPLY TO ANY
AUTHORITY OPERATED BY A BI-STATE AUTHORITY.
2. (A) EVERY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY SHALL REQUIRE ALL EMPLOY-
EES OF THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY, AND ALL EMPLOYEES OR OPERA-
TORS OF PRIVATE ENTITIES UNDER CONTRACT TO A PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE REGULAR ROUTE SERVICE, WHO ARE LIKELY TO INTERACT
OR COME INTO CONTACT WITH GUESTS OR RIDERS TO UNDERGO A HUMAN TRAFFICK-
ING RECOGNITION TRAINING PROGRAM TO PROVIDE TRAINING IN THE RECOGNITION
OF A HUMAN TRAFFICKING VICTIM AS DEFINED IN SECTION FOUR HUNDRED EIGHT-
Y-THREE-AA OF THE SOCIAL SERVICES LAW. SUCH TRAINING PROGRAM SHALL BE
ESTABLISHED OR APPROVED BY THE DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES AND
THE OFFICE OF TEMPORARY AND DISABILITY ASSISTANCE IN CONSULTATION WITH
THE NEW YORK STATE INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING. THE
TRAINING PROGRAM MAY BE DEVELOPED BY A FEDERAL, STATE, OR NON-PROFIT
ORGANIZATION, AND MAY BE INCORPORATED AS PART OF THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTA-
TION AUTHORITY'S EXISTING TRAINING PROGRAMS OR MAY BE PROVIDED BY ORGAN-
IZATIONS OR PROVIDERS IDENTIFIED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF THE DIVISION OF
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES OR THE COMMISSIONER OF THE OFFICE OF TEMPORARY
AND DISABILITY ASSISTANCE, PROVIDED THAT THE TRAINING INCLUDES ALL OF
THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION. ESTABLISHED OR APPROVED TRAINING
PROGRAMS MAY BE MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH METHODS INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMIT-
ED TO, IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION, ELECTRONIC AND VIDEO COMMUNICATION, OR
ONLINE PROGRAMS.
(B) THE COMMISSIONER, AT THE COMMISSIONER'S DISCRETION, MAY WAIVE THE
TRAINING REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION FOR A PRIVATE ENTITY UNDER
CONTRACT TO THE CORPORATION TO PROVIDE REGULAR ROUTE SERVICE IF THE
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PRIVATE ENTITY REQUIRES ITS EMPLOYEES OR OPERATORS TO COMPLETE AN EQUAL
OR GREATER TRAINING COURSE ON THE HANDLING AND RESPONSE PROCEDURES FOR
SUSPECTED HUMAN TRAFFICKING ACTIVITIES.
3.(A) ANY HUMAN TRAFFICKING RECOGNITION TRAINING PROGRAM ESTABLISHED
OR APPROVED BY THE DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES AND THE OFFICE
OF TEMPORARY AND DISABILITY ASSISTANCE IN CONSULTATION WITH THE NEW YORK
STATE INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING AS REQUIRED IN THIS
SECTION SHALL ADDRESS NO LESS THAN THE FOLLOWING ISSUES:
(I) THE NATURE OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING;
(II) HOW HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS DEFINED IN LAW;
(III) HOW TO IDENTIFY VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING; AND
(IV) WHO TO CONTACT, SUCH AS THE NATIONAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING HOTLINE,
WHICH CONNECTS VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING TO:
(A) RELIEF AND RECOVERY OPTIONS; AND
(B) SOCIAL AND LEGAL SERVICES.
(B) THE TRAINING COURSE SHALL BE REVIEWED AT LEAST ONCE EVERY TWO
YEARS AND MODIFIED AS NEEDED BY THE COMMISSIONER AND THE APPROVED NON-
PROFIT COURSE PROVIDER, AS APPROPRIATE.
4. (A) EACH PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION COMPANY SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR
ENSURING THAT ALL REQUIRED CURRENT EMPLOYEES AND ALL EMPLOYEES OR OPERA-
TORS OF PRIVATE ENTITIES UNDER CONTRACT TO A PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE REGULAR ROUTE SERVICE COMPLETE THE TRAINING COURSE.
PERSONS EMPLOYED ON THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION MUST COMPLETE THE
TRAINING WITHIN TWO YEARS OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION. TRAIN-
ING FOR EMPLOYEES WHO COMMENCE EMPLOYMENT AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF
THIS SECTION MUST COMPLETE THE TRAINING WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF THE
COMMENCEMENT OF EMPLOYMENT.
(B) IF AN APPROVED NON-PROFIT COURSE PROVIDER IS INVOLVED IN PROVIDING
THE TRAINING COURSE TO NEW EMPLOYEES WHO INITIALLY COMMENCE EMPLOYMENT
AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION, THE NON-PROFIT COURSE PROVIDER
SHALL PROVIDE THE TRAINING COURSE AT LEAST ONCE EVERY SIX MONTHS IN
ORDER FOR THE EMPLOYEES TO MEET THE SIX-MONTH TRAINING DEADLINE.
(C) EACH CONTRACT ENTERED INTO AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS
SECTION BETWEEN A PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY AND A PRIVATE ENTITY
TO PROVIDE REGULAR ROUTE SERVICE SHALL INCLUDE A REQUIREMENT THAT OPERA-
TORS OF THE PRIVATE ENTITY THAT PROVIDES REGULAR ROUTE SERVICE UNDER
SUCH CONTRACT SHALL ATTEND THE ONE-TIME TRAINING COURSE, UNLESS SUCH
REQUIREMENT IS WAIVED PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF SUBDIVISION TWO OF
THIS SECTION; PROVIDED THAT THE PROVISION OF THIS SECTION SHALL NOT
APPLY TO ANY CURRENT CONTRACT BETWEEN A PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY
AND A PRIVATE ENTITY TO PROVIDE REGULAR ROUTE SERVICE THAT WAS ENTERED
INTO PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION.
5. THE COMMISSIONER OF THE DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES AND
THE COMMISSIONER OF THE OFFICE OF TEMPORARY AND DISABILITY ASSISTANCE
SHALL MAKE AVAILABLE A LIST ONLINE OF ESTABLISHED OR APPROVED HUMAN
TRAFFICKING RECOGNITION PROGRAMS FOR USE BY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
AUTHORITIES AND PRIVATE ENTITIES UNDER CONTRACT.
6. EACH PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY SHALL MAINTAIN RECORDS INDI-
CATING THAT EACH EMPLOYEE REQUIRED TO UNDERGO AN ESTABLISHED OR APPROVED
HUMAN TRAFFICKING RECOGNITION TRAINING PROGRAM PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION
HAS COMPLETED SUCH TRAINING. SUCH RECORDS SHALL BE KEPT ON FILE BY THE
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY FOR THE PERIOD DURING WHICH THE EMPLOYEE
IS EMPLOYED BY THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY AND FOR ONE YEAR
AFTER SUCH EMPLOYMENT ENDS.
§ 4. This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a
law; provided that the amendments to subdivision 8 of section 840 of the
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executive law made by section two of this act shall take effect on the
same date and in the same manner as section one of chapter 632 of the
laws of 2025 takes effect. Effective immediately, the addition, amend-
ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen-
tation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and
completed on or before such effective date.