§ 15-207. National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline information

   (a) Signage. --

   (1) The Department shall design a sign that states the following:

"REPORT HUMAN TRAFFICKING: National Human Trafficking Resource Center -- 
1-888-373-7888. 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 under State law."



   (2) The sign shall:

      (i) be at least 3 by 5 inches in size;

      (ii) contain the text required under paragraph (1) of this subsection in English, Spanish, and any other languages required by the federal Voting Rights Act;

      (iii) draw attention to the phone number of the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline by showing the phone number in bold type; and

      (iv) be placed on the Department website.

(b) Civil citation requiring lodging establishment to post sign. --

   (1) A State, county, or municipal law enforcement agency may issue a civil citation to a lodging establishment requiring it to post prominently in each guest room for 1 year the sign that is identical to the notice required to be placed on the website of the Department under subsection (a) of this section, if the lodging establishment is located on property where arrests leading to convictions of prostitution, solicitation of a minor, or human trafficking under Title 11, Subtitle 13 of the Criminal Law Article have occurred.

   (2) A State, county, or municipal law enforcement agency shall consider any assistance it receives from a lodging establishment in an investigation leading to a conviction under paragraph (1) of this subsection in determining whether to issue a citation under this subsection.

(c) Civil penalty. --

   (1) The owner of a lodging establishment that violates subsection (b)(1) of this section is subject to a civil penalty not exceeding $ 1,000.

   (2) Each guest room that does not have a sign is not a separate violation.

HISTORY: 2010, chs. 576, 577.