Substitute Senate Bill No. 116, also known as Public Act No. 26-98, aims to strengthen the prevention of human trafficking in Connecticut by implementing new registration and compliance requirements for operators of hotels, motels, inns, and similar lodging establishments. Effective January 1, 2027, these operators must register with the Department of Consumer Protection, providing detailed business information and compliance with existing laws, along with a nonrefundable registration fee based on the number of guest rooms. The bill grants the Commissioner of Consumer Protection the authority to inspect records and premises to ensure compliance, while also establishing penalties for non-compliance.

The bill further amends existing statutes regarding record-keeping and employee training, mandating operators to maintain guest transaction records for at least six months and ensure employees are trained to recognize potential victims of human trafficking, with annual certification documented in personnel files. Violations can incur civil penalties of up to $1,000 per violation, capped at $5,000 per calendar year. Additionally, the bill amends Section 54-234a by removing and then re-adding lodging establishments to the list of those required to post specific notices, while introducing new civil penalties for non-compliance, including a $100 penalty for the first violation and $250 for subsequent violations, with a specific $1,000 penalty for lodging establishments. These penalties are supplementary to other legal actions that may be taken against operators.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 44-4, 44-5, 44-6, 54-234a
Public Act No. 26-98: 44-4, 44-5, 44-6, 54-234a