SB 876
Department of Legislative Services
Maryland General Assembly
2021 Session
FISCAL AND POLICY NOTE
First Reader
Senate Bill 876 (Senator Jackson)
Finance
Business Regulation - Innkeepers - Records and Human Trafficking Awareness
Training
This bill requires the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services
(GOCPYVS) and the Maryland Department of Labor (MDL) to approve an education
training program for the accurate and prompt identification and reporting of suspected
human trafficking. An innkeeper must ensure that all employees of the lodging
establishment receive the annual training. By October 1, 2022, and by October 1 annually
thereafter, each innkeeper must certify to MDL that all employees of the lodging
establishment have received the annual training. In addition, the bill requires an innkeeper
to maintain a computerized recordkeeping system of all guest transactions and receipts.
The records must be retained for at least six months.
Fiscal Summary
State Effect: The bill’s requirements can be handled with existing budgeted resources, as
discussed below. No effect on revenues.
Local Effect: Any additional enforcement activity can be handled with existing resources.
Revenues are not materially affected.
Small Business Effect: Potential meaningful for some small business lodging
establishments.
 Analysis
Bill Summary: The training program must include a video presentation that offers
guidance to employees of innkeepers on (1) the recognition of potential victims of human
trafficking and (2) the activities commonly associated with human trafficking.
Current Law: State law does not require an innkeeper to maintain electronic records or
ensure that training related to human trafficking is provided to the employees of lodging
establishments. “Innkeeper” means the owner, operator, manager, or keeper of a lodging
establishment or the agent of an owner, operator, manager, or keeper of a lodging
establishment. “Lodging establishment” means an inn, hotel, motel, or other establishment
that has at least four rooms available for a fee to transient guests for lodging or sleeping
purposes.
A person may not knowingly (1) engage in prostitution or assignation by any means;
(2) keep, set up, occupy, maintain, or operate a building, structure, or conveyance for
prostitution or assignation; (3) allow a building, structure, or conveyance owned or under
the person’s control to be used for prostitution or assignation; (4) allow or agree to allow a
person into a building, structure, or conveyance for prostitution or assignation; or
(5) procure or solicit, or offer to procure or solicit, prostitution or assignation. A person
who violates any of those prohibitions is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by
imprisonment for up to one year, and/or a $500 maximum fine.
Law enforcement may issue a civil citation to require the posting of National Human
Trafficking Resource Center hotline signs for one year in lodging establishments where
arrests leading to convictions for prostitution, solicitation of a minor, or human trafficking
have occurred. Violators are subject to a civil penalty of up to $1,000. Each guest room
that does not have a sign is not a separate violation.
State Fiscal Effect: GOCPYVS and MDL advise that they can approve a training program
in accordance with the bill with existing resources. They note that the U.S. Department of
Homeland Security’s Blue Campaign offers educational videos on the indicators of human
trafficking that can be used to comply with the bill.
Small Business Effect: Small business lodging establishments that do not maintain
computerized recordkeeping systems as required under the bill are likely to incur limited
one-time costs to purchase the equipment necessary to comply.
SB 876/ Page 2
 Additional Information
Prior Introductions: HB 382 of 2020 received a hearing in the House Economic Matters
Committee, but no further action was taken. HB 673 of 2017, a similar bill, received an
unfavorable report from the House Economic Matters Committee.
Designated Cross File: HB 338 (Delegate Ebersole) - Economic Matters.
Information Source(s): Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim
Services; Maryland Department of Labor; Department of Legislative Services
Fiscal Note History: First Reader - February 14, 2021
an/mcr
Analysis by: Tyler Allard Direct Inquiries to:
(410) 946-5510
(301) 970-5510
SB 876/ Page 3


Statutes affected:
Text - First - Business Regulation - Innkeepers - Records and Human Trafficking Awareness Training: 15-201 Business Regulation, 15-209 Business Regulation