New York Hotels Are Now Required to Provide Information Regarding Human Trafficking to their Guests and Employees
As of October 14, 2018, New York hotels are now required to provide information regarding human trafficking to their guests and employees. The new information cards must be posted in various public spaces within their establishments.
The rationale behind the new law (Assembly Bill 9870) is that victims of human trafficking are often housed in hotels, at least on a short-term basis. “Since trafficking networks rely on legitimate businesses like hotels to sustain their illegal operations, that’s where we need to focus our efforts to help these victims,” said Assemblymember Amu Paulin, who sponsored the law. “For some victims, this information may be the only opportunity to learn about services available to them. Additionally, because of the discreet size of the informational cards, it may be possible for a victim to take a card unnoticed and use the card to call the hotline for help at a later time.”
New Requirements for NY Lodging Facilities
The new hotel regulation amends New York’s general business law to require lodging facilities to provide information about services for human trafficking victims on informational cards in public areas, including in the public restrooms, the individual guest rooms, and near the public entrance or other conspicuous places in plain sight of the guests and employees. Under the new human trafficking law, the definition of lodging facility does not include “an establishment treated as a dwelling unit for the purposes of any state or local law or regulation or an establishment located within a building that has five or less rooms for rent or hire and that is actually occupied as a residence by the proprietor of such establishment.” Accordingly, most B&Bs and home rentals do fall under the law.
With regard to the format of the card, there are three options:
A card created by the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) in consultation with the New York State Interagency Task Force on Human Trafficking;
A card created by the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS); or
A card created by the hotel or other lodging facility.
The OTDA has not yet published its model informational card. However, the DHS has created cards, which are available here. Should businesses elect to create their own cards, the law provides that the informational cards must only contain information concerning service for human trafficking victims and must prominently include the national human trafficking hotline telephone number (1-888-373-7888).
If you have any questions or if you would like to discuss the matter further, please contact me, Roshan D. Shah, or the Scarinci Hollenbeck attorney with whom you work, at 201-806-3364.
Section 363 Sales in Bankruptcy: What Businesses, Lenders, and Buyers Need to Know
When a company enters Chapter 11 bankruptcy, many assume the process will culminate in a lengthy reorganization plan. However, distressed businesses are increasingly being sold through a different mechanism — a sale under Section 363 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. A Section 363 sale allows a company, as a debtor-in-possession in bankruptcy, to sell […]
Zoning Laws Explained: What You Need to Know Before Buying Property
Before buying property, it is critical to determine whether local zoning laws may affect your plans. If you plan to redevelop the property, you will want to confirm that local zoning regulations permit development as intended. If acquiring property that is already developed, you must verify that the use is permitted in the underlying zoning […]
Special Needs Trusts in New Jersey: Planning for Your Loved One’s Future
For parents of a child with a disability, estate planning raises concerns that go well beyond deciding who will inherit their assets. Parents may spend years making sure their child has the right care, services, and support. Eventually, they must also confront a difficult question: Who will take over when they can no longer do […]
What Every Real Estate Investor Should Know Before Buying a Rental Property
Before buying a New Jersey rental property, an investor should verify realistic operating numbers, the property’s legal and regulatory status, lead-based paint and flood compliance, the existing leases and tenant protections, and the right ownership structure. A rental property is more than a piece of real estate; it is an operating business subject to legal, […]
Can You Change an Irrevocable Trust in New Jersey?
In New Jersey, an irrevocable trust can sometimes be modified even though its name suggests otherwise, and one of the primary tools for doing so is a process called decanting. Whether decanting is available depends on the specific terms of the trust and the discretion given to the trustee. Key takeaways: New Jersey has no […]
How Intellectual Property Valuation Will Impact Business Transactions
Intellectual property valuation determines the monetary value of a business’s IP assets, and it drives outcomes in licensing deals, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, financing, and ownership disputes. The most valuable assets of a business are often the things that cannot be seen or touched: a proprietary process, a copyrighted work, brand recognition, or the […]
No Aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court. Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.
Sign up to get the latest from our attorneys!
Explore What Matters Most to You.
Consider subscribing to our Firm Insights mailing list by clicking the button below so you can keep up to date with the firm`s latest articles covering various legal topics.
Stay informed and inspired with the latest updates, insights, and events from Scarinci Hollenbeck. Our resource library provides valuable content across a range of categories to keep you connected and ahead of the curve.
Let`s get in touch!
Sign up to get the latest from the Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC attorneys!
