BOSTON – House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) is backing legislation to prevent the exploitation of women and children by requiring hospitality workers to undergo formal training to identify suspected cases of human trafficking.
House Bill 4360, which has received support from the hospitality industry, was engrossed by the House of Representatives on a vote of 158-0 and is now before the Senate Ways and Means Committee. The bill still requires Senate approval and Governor Maura Healey’s signature before it can become law.
“Far too many vulnerable women and children are being exploited and coerced into human trafficking,” said Representative Jones. “By requiring mandatory training within the hospitality industry to raise awareness of this heinous crime, we can help victims regain their freedom and take steps to prevent others from being victimized. I am hopeful the Senate will join with the House and act quickly to pass this important piece of legislation.”
The Massachusetts Lodging Association (MLA) and the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) have both endorsed this legislation. Since 2019, the AHLA Foundation has been offering training to hospitality workers and employers through its national No Room for Trafficking initiative (https://www.ahlafoundation.org/nrft/).
Under the House proposal, employees of Massachusetts hotels, motels, lodging houses, and bed and breakfast establishments will be required to undergo a human trafficking recognition training program, which will include training on the nature and definition of human trafficking, as well as how to identify a human trafficking victim. The training program, including the organizations and providers that offer the training, will be approved by the attorney general to ensure that uniform standards are being followed across the state.
Licensed innholders will also be required to conspicuously post a written human trafficking notice developed by the attorney general in their lobby and in any public restrooms on the premises. This notice must include the telephone number for the National Human Trafficking Hotline, which is 1-888-373-7888.
According to its website, the National Human Trafficking Hotline has identified 1,175 cases of human trafficking involving 2,283 victims in Massachusetts alone between 2007 and 2024. On a national level, the hotline has identified 112,822 cases of human trafficking involving 218,568 victims.
House Bill 4360 provides an exemption for innholders with three rooms or less. The bill also does not apply to Airbnb rentals or other similar services.
