HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1436        FILED ON: 1/14/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Steven Ultrino

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to human trafficking awareness.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1436        FILED ON: 1/14/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act relative to human trafficking awareness.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Chapter 6C of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting at the end of Section 31 the following:-

Section 31A. The office of planning and programming shall provide a sample sign, to be approved by the general manager. Such sign shall be not less than eight and one-half inches high and eleven inches wide containing the following notice:

“WARNING. Obtaining forced labor or services is a crime under Massachusetts law. If you or someone you know is being forced to engage in any activity and cannot leave – whether it is commercial sex, housework, farm work or any other activity – call the National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888. You can remain anonymous, and the Hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”

Such notice shall be provided in English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Portuguese, and any other language as recommended by the office of planning and programming, whereby the English notice must cover at least one-half of the sign, to display in all state highway and mass transit facilities and vehicles that are open to the public, including restrooms, in a conspicuous manner clearly visible to the public and employees.

(b) The office of planning and programming shall periodically, and at least annually, consult with the attorney general as to whether a sample sign pursuant to subsection (a) shall be provided in any other language.