SB570: SB570 "Georgia Human Trafficking Prevention Training Act"; enact

26 LC 49 2811S Senate Bill 570 By: Senators Still of the 48th, Anavitarte of the 31st, Albers of the 56th, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd and Dixon of the 45th AS PASSED A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Article 1 of Chapter 21 of Title 43 of the Official Co de of Georgia Annotated,1 relating to rights, duties, and liabilities of innkeepers, so as to provide for a required human2 trafficking training program for inns and short-term rental pro perties; to provide for3 definitions; to provide for training policies and procedures; t o provide for the retention of4 certain records; to provide for limitations; to provide for penalties; to provide for exemptions;5 to provide a short title; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal6 conflicting laws; and for other purposes.7 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:8 SECTION 1.9 This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Georgia Human Trafficking Prevention10 Training Act."11 SECTION 2.12 Article 1 of Chapter 21 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Geo rgia Annotated, relating to13 rights, duties, and liabilities of innkeepers, is amended by adding a new Code section to read14 as follows:15 S. B. 570 - 1 - 26 LC 49 2811S "43-21-16.16 (a) As used in this Code section, the term:17 (1) 'Hosting platform' means an electronic platform used to ad vertise or facilitate the18 rental of a short-term rental property.19 (2) 'Human trafficking' means an offense provided for in Code Section 16-5-46. Such20 term shall include the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obta in some type of labor or21 commercial sex act as defined in 22 U.S.C. Section 7102.22 (3) 'Human trafficking awareness training' means a course developed or approved by the23 office, in consultation with the Georgia Hotel and Lodging Asso ciation, the Criminal24 Justice Coordinating Council, and hosting platforms.25 (4) 'Office' means the office of the Attorney General.26 (5) 'Short-term rental property' means a residential unit used or offered for tourist or27 transient use through a hosting platform and managed by a third-party property manager.28 (6) 'Third-party property manager' means a property management company, rental29 management service, or any other entity or an individual that p rovides services for a30 short-term rental property, such as marketing, guest communicat ions, check-in31 procedures, cleaning, or maintenance on behalf of the property owner of such short-term32 rental property for compensation. This term shall not include a hosting platform.33 (b)(1) All on-site employees of an inn and every third-party p roperty manager of a34 short-term rental property in this state shall be required to r eceive annual human35 trafficking awareness training within 60 days of employment and on an annual basis36 thereafter, with the training being completed by December 31 du ring the first full year37 of employment.38 (2) The training requirements contained in paragraph (1) of th is subsection shall not39 apply to an inn employee or a third-party property manager of a short-term rental40 property who has completed human trafficking awareness training that meets the criteria41 set forth in this Code section within the 12 month period prior to July 1, 2026, and42 S. B. 570 - 2 - 26 LC 49 2811S provides a record of completion to the owner, operator, or mana ger of the inn or43 short-term rental property.44 (c) The office shall, in consultation with the Georgia Hotel and Lodging Association, the45 Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, and hosting platforms, develop human trafficking46 awareness training or identify existing training courses that include, but are not limited to,47 the following:48 (1) The definition of human trafficking and commercial exploitation of children;49 (2) Guidance on how to identify individuals at risk for human trafficking;50 (3) Guidance on how to identify the signs of human trafficking and individuals51 potentially engaged in the act of human trafficking;52 (4) The differences between labor and sex trafficking as such terms relate to the inn53 industry;54 (5) Guidance on the role of hospitality employees in reporting and responding to this55 issue; and56 (6) The contact information for the National Human Trafficking Hotline or local law57 enforcement agency.58 (d) Every owner, operator, or manager of an inn or short-term rental property in this state59 shall implement procedures and adopt policies for the reporting of suspected human60 trafficking to the National Human Trafficking Hotline or local law enforcement agency.61 (e) Every owner, operator, or manager of an inn or a short-term rental property in this state62 shall comply with the posting requirements in Code Section 16-5-47, and the sheriff of the63 county or the local law enforcement agency where such inn or short-term rental property64 is located or the municipal police department having jurisdiction over such location shall65 assist in enforcement of such posting requirements.66 (f) Any person who operates an inn or short-term rental proper ty in this state shall67 maintain records of employee training acknowledgments. Such records shall be retained68 by the inn or short-term rental property for the period during which the employee is69 S. B. 570 - 3 - 26 LC 49 2811S employed by such inn or short-term rental property and for one year after such employment70 ends. An inn or short-term rental property shall provide records to the office no later than71 ten business days after such request is made in writing by such office.72 (g) Nothing in this Code section shall be construed as creatin g a private cause of action73 against an inn, or its employees, for any act or omission arising out of the requirements of74 this Code section or in any way limiting or impairing the right s or remedies which are75 otherwise available to a victim of human trafficking under any other law.76 (h)(1) The office may impose against any owner, operator, or m anager of an inn or a77 short-term rental property who willfully and knowingly violates the requirements of this78 Code section an administrative penalty of:79 (A) For a first violation, $500.00;80 (B) For a second violation, $1,000.00; and81 (C) For a third or subsequent violation, $2,000.00.82 (2) The clear proceeds of administrative penalties assessed pursuant to this subsection83 shall be remitted to the office.84 (i) This Code section shall not apply to short-term rental properties:85 (1) That are managed directly and exclusivel y by the individual property owner or86 owners; provided, however, that this exemption shall apply regardless of whether such87 property owner or owners use or does not use a hosting platform for such rental property;88 or89 (2) That are offered for rent for less than a total of 15 days per calendar year."90 SECTION 3.91 This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2026.92 SECTION 4.93 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.94 S. 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