How Ga. legislation aims to cut down on human trafficking
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - On Tuesday, Senate Bill 370 ed the Georgia Senate.
The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Mike Hodges, said the bill would expand what businesses will be required to display the human trafficking hotline number and give existing legislation some teeth.
An amendment added truck stops to the growing list.
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Establishments in the legislation include:
- Adult entertainment establishments
- Bars
- Primary airports
- enger rail or light rail stations
- Bus stations
- Truck stops
- Emergency rooms within general acute care hospitals
- Urgent care centers
- Farm labor contractors and day haulers
- Privately operated job recruitment centers
- Safety rest areas located along interstate highways in this state
- Hotels
- Businesses and establishments that offer massage or bodywork services by a massage therapist or a person who is not a massage therapist
- Certain government buildings
- Convenience stores
- Body art studios
The human trafficking hotline — (866) 363-4842 — is a 24/7 number that could connect you to law enforcement, including the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI).
“Hopefully, we can make a dent in it. If they call the number, then the GBI can have somebody, ‘Johnny on the spot,’ helping them within hours,” said Hodges.
Georgia is one of the worst states in the nation for human trafficking — the state’s human trafficking court estimates that 100 girls are taken advantage of every night up to 375 girls a month.
The National Human Trafficking Hotline reported more than 1,000 calls from Georgia in 2021
Senator Colton Moore was the only dissenting vote. Moore found an issue with a line that would exempt some convenience stores based on the number of meat and produce they sell. He asked the sponsor if the bill would mean large convenience stories like Buc-ee’s could be exempt.
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