BILL NUMBER: S2399A
SPONSOR: PERSAUD
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to establishing
a sex trafficking awareness and prevention program
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill would require the Commissioner of the Department of Motor
Vehicles, in conjunction with New York State's Interagency Task Force on
Human Trafficking, and the Commissioners of the Department of Transpor-
tation and Division of Criminal Justice Services, respectively, to
establish and implement a sex trafficking awareness and prevention
program within the curriculum requirements for all commercial driver
licenses with the goal of providing education and awareness for the
prevention of sex trafficking in the state to all CDL bearing drivers.
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends the vehicle and traffic law by adding a new section
224-b to establish a Sex Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Program
within the curriculum requirements for all commercial driver's licenses.
This section directs the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, in conjunction
with the Interagency Task Force on Human Trafficking, the Commissioner
of the Division of Criminal Justice Services, and the Commissioner of
Transportation, to implement a program designed to provide education and
awareness for the prevention of sex trafficking in New York State. The
program shall utilize materials from a nationally recognized anti-traf-
ficking organization and include a minimum of thirty minutes of train-
ing.
Educational materials shall be distributed to all trade schools, commu-
nity colleges, agencies, and public or private schools or persons offer-
ing instruction in the operation of commercial motor vehicles. The
program shall include information on identifying warning signs of poten-
tial sex trafficking and on reporting suspected activity.
The Commissioner may coordinate with the Interagency Task Force on Human
Trafficking to collect and organize data on trafficking in persons,
identify available federal, state, and local victim services, consult
with governmental and non-governmental organizations to strengthen
prevention efforts, and evaluate both the State's progress and the
effectiveness of the program. The Commissioner shall include an annual
report on the program's effectiveness within the Department's annual
report.
Section 2 amends subdivision 1 of section 502 of the Vehicle and Traffic
Law, as separately amended by chapters 158 and 440 of the laws of 2021
to require applicants for a commercial driver's license to submit a
certificate demonstrating completion of the Sex Trafficking Awareness
and Prevention Program established under section 224-b.
Section 3 provides for an effective date after 90 days with the excep-
tion of subdivision (c) of section 1 will take effect after 180 days.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Despite a concerted multi-disciplinary effort to combat human traffick-
ing across the United States, New York State remains among the top five
states by reported cases. Recently signed into law, Chapter 498 of 2025,
formally adds transportation agencies - including the Department of
Transportation, Department of Motor Vehicles, and New York State Thruway
Authority - to the Interagency Task Force on Human Trafficking. While
collaborative efforts between transportation agencies and the Task Force
have previously occurred, no formal relationships existed prior.
Under this bill, the Department of Motor Vehicles will implement a sex
trafficking awareness and prevention program in conjunction with the
Interagency Task Force on Human Trafficking and the Department of Trans-
portation. The program will provide standardized training to commercial
driver's license holders to increase awareness of the warning signs of
sex trafficking and the resources available for reporting suspected
activity. In addition to expanding education, this legislation will
foster enhanced communication and coordination among agencies, advancing
statewide efforts to combat human trafficking - a strategy recommended
in the U.S. Department of Transportation's Winter 2021 publication
Combating Human Trafficking (Public Roads FHWA-HRT-21-002).
This bill also recognizes the contributions of private-sector leaders in
combating trafficking, including Truckers Against Trafficking, Transpor-
tation Leaders Against Human Trafficking, and Businesses Ending Slavery
and Trafficking. For example, Truckers Against Trafficking has provided
training and outreach to over 1,745,803 industry members (2023 Impact
Report). New York State's vast, multi-modal transportation network
encompassing seaports, airports, rail, and major border crossings with
Canada, positions it as a critical hub for detecting and preventing
trafficking. By establishing coordination and awareness training at the
CDL school level, this legislation strengthens the State's capacity to
combat trafficking, protect vulnerable populations, and leverages the
transportation sector's unique role in enforcement and prevention.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2025: Amended to implement the program from DMV level to CDL school
level.
2023-2024: 52145 referred to Transportation
2021-2022: S6528 referred to Transportation
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Minimal to none
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
90 days after becoming law with agency reporting requirements taking
effect after 180 days.

Statutes affected:
S2399A: 502 vehicle and traffic law, 502(1) vehicle and traffic law