Legislation aimed at increasing awareness and prevention of human trafficking in Pennsylvania has passed the House and is now with the Senate, according to Representatives Eric Nelson (R-Westmoreland) and Regina Young (D-Philadelphia/Delaware).
“Some of the nation’s busiest throughfares travel directly through Pennsylvania, and while this is great for economic development, it also brings with it widespread human trafficking,” Nelson said. “Making certain those who work in hotels and restaurants know what to look for, we can help those being victimized in this heinous criminal enterprise.”
The bill establishes training requirements approved by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency for employees of public lodging establishments who interact with guests or have access to guest rooms. It also applies to operators of short-term rentals. The legislation was unanimously approved in the House with a 203-0 vote.
Zakary Pyzik, senior director of public affairs for the Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association, expressed support from the lodging industry. “The Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association and the hotel industry nationwide is doing all we can to combat human trafficking. The issue touches every corner of the industry, which is why parity in training and accountability embodied in HB 1286 is so important,” Pyzik said. “It sends a clear message that Pennsylvania is not a place where traffickers will operate unchecked. It’s critical that we act now.”
Young emphasized the importance of educating frontline staff: “Front desk and housekeeping staff are some of the most engaged employees with guests, so they should be educated to recognize and report suspected trafficking,” she said. “This bill also encompasses online reservation services to account for their specific set of warning signs as a popular and easy option to bypass face-to-face interactions.”
Nelson highlighted bipartisan cooperation on this effort: “This is an excellent example of how when we work together across the aisle, and with industry leaders, with respect, we can change the lives of Pennsylvanians,” he said. “This is an unprecedented harnessing of resources that even the industry says, yes, this is a good thing for people.”
