Human Trafficking Legislation Signed Into Law
Written by on October 7, 2023
On September 27, 2023, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a series of bills that will combat human trafficking and assist its victims.
One of those bills, Bill S.395-Cleare/A.5505-Paulin, directs the New York State Interagency Task Force on Human Trafficking to investigate the connection between social media and human trafficking. Frequently, young people who become trafficking victims are ensnared by traffickers who make initial contact with them via social media. It is hoped that this new law will lead to the creation of new strategies and techniques to help frustrate traffickers’ attempts to use social media in this manner.
Two other bills that Gov. Hochul signed into law will make information and resources available to trafficking victims in certain public places. Bill S.5527-Cleare/A.3720-Paulin requires that resources for trafficking victims be posted in restrooms and lactation rooms at facilities owned by the Metropolitan Planning Authority (MTA). Bill S.5827-Cleare/A.4586-Paulin mandates that similar information be posted in lactation rooms at service areas on the New York State Thruway. It is hoped that trafficking victims who enter restrooms and lactation rooms will be outside the control of their captors for a few moments, and will be able to obtain lifesaving information about help that is available to them.
New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms looks forward to the day when human trafficking no longer exists in New York, or in the rest of the United States. We continue to support laws and policies that will help bring about that outcome.
