The Department of Labor will begin developing human trafficking awareness training
Sadly, North Carolina ranks ninth in the United States for the number of reported cases of human trafficking. Beginning December 1, 2024, the Department of Labor (NCDOL) will start developing human trafficking awareness training to correct this growing problem. The NCDOL is developing a training course to inform and educate individuals about human trafficking. Completion of the program will be a biennial requirement for employees of lodging establishments, third-party contractors, accommodation facilitators, and property managers of vacation rentals, who perform housekeeping services, provide food or beverage services, and those who perform check-in or check-out duties.
The goal of this training is to help employees recognize the victims and perpetrators of human trafficking so that the victims can be rescued and the perpetrators caught. Any lodging establishment, third-party contractor, or property manager who willingly and knowingly violates the training requirement may be fined by the NCDOL.
The responsible parties must also implement procedures for reporting suspected human trafficking to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, or to a local law enforcement agency. In addition to mandatory human trafficking training for those in the accommodations industry, HB 971 also:
Increases the penalties for solicitation of prostitution;
Creates penalties for the unlawful disclosure of a victim’s confidentiality;
Requires the disclosure of certain criminal history in child custody pleadings;
Prohibits the viewing of pornography on government networks and devices;
Expands human trafficking training and guidance to county child welfare staff, county social services attorneys, county social services directors, and all social services staff; and
Allows college campus police, under certain circumstances, to access the Criminal Justice Law Enforcement Automated Data System.
To view the full details please click on the following link. https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2023/Bills/House/PDF/H971v7.pdf.
