Position Statement -2018

A.7034-A (Titone) / S.6893-A (Lanza)

Support

Requires casinos and other gaming facilities train employees in human trafficking recognition.

WBASNY strongly supports this bill which amends the General Business Law by adding a new section 210 to require employees of gaming facilities to complete human trafficking recognition training either established or approved by the Division of Criminal Justice Services and the Office of Temporary and Disability Awareness. Qualifying training programs may be developed by a federal, state, or nonprofit organization, and may be made available to employees through in-person, electronic and video instruction, or online programming. This required training would include training employees on the nature of human trafficking, how human trafficking is defined in law, how to identify victims of human trafficking, relief and recovery options for survivors, and social and legal services available to victims. Trainings will take place on the premises of the facility and would be required to take place within the first month of employment.

Victims of human trafficking come into contact with employees in various industries including gaming.  At the 2014 Super Bowl, 45 people were arrested and 16 juveniles age 17 and younger were rescued from a child sex trafficking ring. However, victims do not seek help on their own when they come into contact with these employees due to threats of deportation or physical harm from the traffickers. Therefore, it is important to educate those who tend to come in contact with victims of human trafficking, such as employees in the gaming industry.

As an organization comprised of 4,300 attorneys and judges across the state in private practice, government, academia and the courts dedicated to the advancement of women in law and society WBASNY strongly supports the passage of this bill.