NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A4669
SPONSOR: Paulin TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend chapter 154 of the laws of 1921, relating to the port
authority of New York and New Jersey, in relation to providing informa-
tion concerning services for human trafficking victims in lactation
rooms in Port Authority bus terminals
PURPOSE:
To require the Port Authority to provide information concerning services
for human trafficking victims in lactation rooms at its bus terminals.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends chapter J54 of the laws of 1921 to require that Port
Authority bus terminals make informational cards or signs available in
any lactation rooms, containing information on services for trafficking
victims, as well as the national human trafficking hotline number.
Section 2 provides the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Human trafficking is a global phenomenon that generates $150 billion in
annual profits. In 2021, an estimated 25 million people were trafficked.
The convenience and anonymity of bus terminals makes it convenient for
traffickers to move victims.
Because bus terminals are known hubs used to traffic victims, they are
an ideal location to provide information about victim services. This
information can not only inform victims, but also other travelers about
the availability of services. Many victims are heavily supervised and
controlled while in transit, preventing them from safely seeking help or
finding resources without fear of retaliation or threat.
Chapter 390 of 2022 required the Port Authority to visibly post human
trafficking informational signs or cards in the public restrooms in its
bus terminals. This legislation would require the signs or cards to also
be posted in any lactation rooms.
Through this legislation, the Port Authority can assume a more prominent
role in responding to and helping to prevent human trafficking. It will
also afford victims the tools and resources to hopefully escape their
captors.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
A.10709 of 2022 referred to corporations.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None
EFFECTIVE DATE:
On the sixtieth day after it shall have become a law.
STATE OF NEW YORK
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4669
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 22, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. PAULIN -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
AN ACT to amend chapter 154 of the laws of 1921, relating to the port
authority of New York and New Jersey, in relation to providing infor-
mation concerning services for human trafficking victims in lactation
rooms in Port Authority bus terminals
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Subparagraph 6 of paragraph f of subdivision 3 of article
2 IV of section 1 of chapter 154 of the laws of 1921, relating to the
3 port authority of New York and New Jersey, as added by chapter 390 of
4 the laws of 2022, is amended to read as follows:
5 (6) information concerning services for human trafficking victims in
6 port authority bus terminals. 1. Any bus terminal maintained or operated
7 by the port authority shall make available in plain view and in a
8 conspicuous place and manner in the public restrooms and in any lacta-
9 tion rooms, informational cards and/or signs developed by:
10 (a) the office of temporary and disability assistance in consultation
11 with the New York state interagency task force on human trafficking; or
12 (b) the United States Department of Homeland Security.
13 2. All informational cards and signs shall only contain information
14 concerning services for human trafficking victims and shall prominently
15 include the national human trafficking hotline telephone number.
16 3. For purposes of this section, "lactation room" shall mean a hygien-
17 ic place, other than a restroom, that: (a) is shielded from view; (b) is
18 free from intrusion; (c) contains a chair, a working surface, and, if
19 the building is otherwise supplied with electricity, an electrical
20 outlet; and (d) is intended to be used for the primary purpose of
21 breastfeeding or expressing breast milk.
22 § 2. This act shall take effect upon the enactment into law by the
23 state of New Jersey of legislation having an identical effect with this
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04546-01-3
A. 4669 2
1 act, but if the state of New Jersey shall have already enacted such
2 legislation, this act shall take effect immediately; provided that the
3 chairperson of the port authority of New Jersey shall notify the legis-
4 lative bill drafting commission upon the occurrence of the enactment of
5 the legislation provided for in section one of this act in order that
6 the commission may maintain an accurate and timely effective data base
7 of the official text of the laws of the state of New York in furtherance
8 of effectuating the provisions of section 44 of the legislative law and
9 section 70-b of the public officers law.
