BILL NUMBER: S8446
SPONSOR: ROLISON
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the penal law, in relation to human trafficking offenses
and the classification of certain offenses; and to amend the correction
law, the criminal procedure law, the executive law, the family court
act, the general business law, the mental hygiene law, the public health
law, the penal law, the social services law, the vehicle and traffic law
and the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the
inclusion of new offenses in existing provisions of law (Part A); and to
amend the education law, in relation to the posting of signs relating to
human trafficking and the content of driver's education courses; to
amend the public health law and the environmental conservation law, in
relation to the posting of signs relating to human trafficking; to amend
the public health law, in relation to making conforming changes; and to
amend the general business law, in relation to education courses for
nail specialty, waxing, natural hair styling, esthetics and cosmetology
(Part B);
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To combat and prevent human trafficking across New York State by estab-
lishing a comprehensive set of measures including increasing penalties
for trafficking on school premises and increasing public awareness and
education. Requiring schools, parks, and businesses such as tattoo and
body piercing studios to display warning signs or posters with informa-
tion about trafficking penalties and the national human trafficking
hotline.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Part A - Section 1: adds the crimes of sex trafficking (230.34-b) and
labor trafficking (135.38) in a school zone, classifies both crimes as a
class A-II felony and updates the penal law accordingly.
Part B - Section 1: Amends the Education Law by adding a new S\section
409-o, mandating that all public, charter, and private schools in the
state post visible signs that warn against human trafficking and detail
the criminal and civil penalties associated with such crimes. A sign
must be prominently displayed in a conspicuous place reasonably likely
to be viewed by all persons entering the school premises. The signs may
also be posted in locations frequented by students and visitors, such as
building entrances and common areas. The content, size, and placement
of the signs will be regulated by the Commissioner of Education, who
must work in consultation with the New York State Anti-Trafficking Task
Force. The Department of Education will provide the signage without
charge and prioritize the distribution to schools based on reports of
criminal activity.
Section 2: Amends Section 806-a of the Education Law to require that
instruction on the dangers and indicators of human The expanded curric-
ulum will equip students with the knowledge to recognize signs of traf-
ficking and potentially intervene or report it. The Commissioner of
Education, in partnership with the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles and
the state's Anti-Trafficking Task Force, will develop specific guide-
lines and materials to be incorporated into driver education programs.
Section 3: Contains a severability clause ensuring that if any part of
the act is found to be invalid by a court, the remainder of the law will
remain in effect. It affirms the legislature's intent to enact the law
regardless of any individual provision being invalidated.
Section 4: Establishes the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
This legislation is modeled after Texas' bipartisan "No Trafficking Zone
Act" which enhances penalties for solicitation or trafficking on school
premises (No Trafficking Zones), requires posting signs with information
to report suspicious activities and enhances education and prevention
through drivers' education courses. Human trafficking impacts vulner-
able individuals across New York State, particularly youth and marginal-
ized populations. This legislation provides strong penalties and a coor-
dinated framework for public education and outreach, ensuring New York
remains proactive in the fight against human trafficking.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately provided, however, that 18 the
applicable effective date of Parts A through B of this act shall be as
specifically set forth in the last section of such Parts
(1)https://www.notraffickingzone.org/senate-bill-1831

Statutes affected:
S8446: 230.34-a penal law, 230.03 penal law, 230.03(2) penal law, 168-a correction law, 168-a(2) correction law, 245.10 criminal procedure law, 245.10(1) criminal procedure law, 245.20 criminal procedure law, 245.20(1) criminal procedure law, 420.35 criminal procedure law, 420.35(2) criminal procedure law, 440.10 criminal procedure law, 440.10(1) criminal procedure law, 510.10 criminal procedure law, 510.10(4) criminal procedure law, 530.20 criminal procedure law, 530.20(1) criminal procedure law, 530.40 criminal procedure law, 530.40(4) criminal procedure law, 700.05 criminal procedure law, 700.05(8) criminal procedure law, 108 executive law, 108(1) executive law, 621 executive law, 621(5) executive law, 995 executive law, 995(7) executive law, 10.03 mental hygiene law, 2324-a public health law, 70.02 penal law, 70.02(1) penal law, 120.70 penal law, 120.70(1) penal law, 130.91 penal law, 130.91(2) penal law, 230.01 penal law, 460.10 penal law, 460.10(1) penal law, 485.05 penal law, 485.05(3) penal law, 447-a social services law, 447-a(1) social services law, 483-aa social services law, 483-bb social services law, 509-cc vehicle and traffic law, 509-cc(4) vehicle and traffic law, 14-192 administrative code of the city of New York as added by local law, 14-192(a) administrative code of the city of New York as added by local law, 20-565 administrative code of the city of New York as added by local law, 20-912 administrative code of the city of New York as amended by local law, 806-a education law, 465 public health law, 408-b general business law