What's happening
This bill requires New York to develop a sex trafficking awareness and prevention program for commercial motor vehicle drivers.
Why it matters
Targets a key group for intervention. By focusing on commercial motor vehicle drivers, the bill leverages a workforce that is often present at locations and along routes where trafficking activity can occur, potentially enabling early detection and intervention.
Creates a formal, statewide program. Mandating the development of an official sex trafficking awareness and prevention program means there will be standardized materials and protocols, rather than relying on voluntary or piecemeal efforts.
Directs actionable information to drivers. The required materials will specifically include signs of trafficking and clear instructions on how and where to report suspicious activity, aiming to empower drivers to take concrete steps if they witness potential trafficking.
Signals increased state priority on trafficking prevention. Involving multiple state agencies (DMV, criminal justice, and transportation) demonstrates a coordinated approach and elevates the issue within New York’s transportation and law enforcement policies.
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Who cares
Commercial motor vehicle license holders
They would receive educational materials on sex trafficking warning signs and where to report suspected activity, within available appropriations.
Department of Motor Vehicles
Its commissioner would develop the sex trafficking awareness and prevention program jointly with criminal justice and transportation officials.
Division of Criminal Justice Services and Department of Transportation
Their commissioners would help develop the program to educate commercial drivers about preventing sex trafficking.
Headline styles
Fight Sex Trafficking Awareness
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1296
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 14, 2019
Introduced by Sens. SERINO, AMEDORE, FUNKE, GALLIVAN, ROBACH, SEWARD -read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed 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 Assembly, 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. The commissioner, in conjunction with the commissioner of the division of criminal justice services and the commissioner of transportation, shall develop a sex trafficking prevention program. The sex trafficking awareness 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.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06841-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
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
2018: S.8535 Advanced to Third Reading
Fiscal implications
Minimal.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.