DLR Draft I 01Feb21 DLR Draft I 01Feb21
Explanation: Capitals indicate matter added to existing law.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
* Warning: This is an unofficial, introductory copy of the bill.
The official copy considered by the City Council is the first reader copy.
Introductory*
City of Baltimore
Council Bill
Introduced by: Councilmembers Burnett, Cohen, Dorsey
A Bill Entitled
An Ordinance concerning
title
Human-Trafficking Notice Requirements - Modifications
For the purpose of requiring city-owned or -occupied buildings to place a notice regarding the human-trafficking prevention hotline in certain locations; deleting an obsolete reference to the “Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation”; providing that certain businesses may obtain the required human-trafficking notices from the United States Department of Homeland Security’s Blue Campaign website; and conforming and clarifying related provisions.
body
By repealing and re-ordaining, with amendments
Article 15 - Licensing and Regulation
Sections 42-1(g) and 42-2
Baltimore City Code
(Edition 2000)
By adding
Article 15 - Licensing and Regulation
Section 42-2.1
Baltimore City Code
(Edition 2000)
Section 1. Be it ordained by the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, That the Laws of Baltimore City read as follows:
Baltimore City Code
Article 15. Licensing and Regulation
Subtitle 42. Human-Trafficking Notice Requirements
§ 42-1. Definitions.
(g) Person.
(1) In general.
“Person” means:
(i) [(1)] an individual;
(ii) [(2)] a partnership, firm, association, corporation, or other entity of any kind; or
(iii) [(3)] a receiver, trustee, guardian, personal representative, fiduciary, or representative of any kind.
(2) Exclusions.
“Person” does not include, unless otherwise expressly provided, a governmental entity or an instrumentality or unit of a governmental entity.
§ 42-2. Human trafficking prevention signs to be posted.
(a) Applicability.
The requirements of this section apply only to:
(1) adult-entertainment businesses;
(2) food service facilities;
(3) hotels; and
(4) permit holders.
(b) In general.
(1) The owner of any business described in subsection (a) of this section must post a sign that states the following:
“REPORT HUMAN TRAFFICKING:
National Human Trafficking Resource Center
Call 1-888-373-7888 or text “BeFree” (233733)
CALL FOR HELP IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW:
• is being forced to have sex without consent
• has had an ID or documents taken away
• is being threatened by or is in debt to an employer
• wants to leave a job but cannot freely do so
TOLL-FREE ‡ 24/7 ‡ CONFIDENTIAL ‡ INTERPRETERS AVAILABLE
This sign is required by Baltimore City law”
(2) The sign must:
(i) be at least 3 by 5 inches in size;
(ii) contain the text required under paragraph (1) of this subsection in English and Spanish; and
(iii) draw attention to the phone number of the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline by showing the phone number in bold type.
(3) The owner of a business as provided in subsection (a) of this section may meet the requirements of this subsection by creating their own signs, using a font size of not less than 30 points for the hotline numbers and a font size of not less than 12 points for the body text, or using copies of the signs created and made available online by the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation under Maryland Business Regulation Article § 15-207 if the signs are altered to indicate that they are required by Baltimore City law rather than State law ] the United States Department of Homeland Security’s Blue Campaign website.
(c) Sign location.
(1) Adult-entertainment businesses and food service facilities must post a sign required under this section in a conspicuous place in clear view of the public and employees where similar notices are customarily posted and on the back of the door at the entrance to each restroom.
(2) Permit holders must post the sign required under this section in a conspicuous place in clear view of the public.
(3) Hotels must post the sign required under this section on the back of each hotel room entry door.
(d) Hotels to certify.
Beginning in calendar year 2020, any person who owns or operates a hotel within the City must annually certify to the Housing Commissioner, in the form and manner required by the Department of Housing and Community Development, no later than December 31 of each year, that the hotel is in compliance with this section.
§ 42-2.1. City-owned or -occupied buildings.
(a) In general.
Except as otherwise provided in this section, in each City-owned or -occupied building, at least 1 sign described in § 42-2(b) of this subtitle must be posted in each:
(1) location where the notice required by Subtitle 4 {“Wages and Hours”}, Part V {“Enforcement”} of the State Labor and Employment Article is posted;
(2) public restroom; and
(3) public entranceway or main lobby to the building or portion of the building occupied by the City.
(b) Facilities occupied by the Baltimore City Public School System.
(1) The Department of General Services, in consultation with the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners, may develop alternate, age-appropriate human-trafficking notice signage for use in City-owned facilities occupied by the Baltimore City Public School System.
(2) At a minimum, any alternate sign developed under this subsection shall meet the form requirements set forth in _ 42-2(b)(2) of this subtitle.
(c) Exceptions.
This section does not apply to any City-owned building that is vacant.
Section 2. And be it further ordained, That the catchlines contained in this Ordinance are not law and may not be considered to have been enacted as a part of this or any prior Ordinance.
Section 3. And be it further ordained, That this Ordinance takes effect on the 30th day after the date it is enacted.