Bill will require training for hotel staff to identify human trafficking, raise awareness
BOSTON – In an effort to identify and prevent human trafficking, State Representative Richard M. Haggerty (D-Woburn), along with his colleagues in the House of Representatives, passed important legislation that requires lodging facilities, such as hotels, motels, lodging houses, and bed-and-breakfasts, to require their employees to participate in a human trafficking recognition training program. The bill also requires these facilities to post in plain view in the lobby or common area, and in any public restroom, a written notice developed by the Attorney General, which should include the national human trafficking hotline number.
“Human trafficking preys on some of the most vulnerable members of our society,” said Representative Haggerty. “This legislation will equip hospitality workers with important tools and training so they can recognize the signs that can be in plain sight. We are sending a clear message with this bill that we will not tolerate this horrendous crime.”
In 2024, there were 288 signals received by the National Human Trafficking Hotline from Massachusetts, out of which 91 were from victims or survivors of human trafficking. There were 115 human trafficking cases identified in Massachusetts in 2024, which involved 326 victims, according to the National Human Trafficking Hotline.
The training program for lodging employees required by this bill must be approved by the Attorney General and provided by an organization or provider from a list approved by the AG. The program must include training on: the nature of human trafficking; how human trafficking is defined under Massachusetts or federal law; and how to identify victims of human trafficking.
The bill passed the House of Representatives 158-0 and now goes to the Senate for its consideration.
