Requires bus drivers complete a human trafficking recognition training program which includes the nature of human trafficking; how human trafficking is defined in law; how to identify someone who is human trafficking; how to identify someone who is a human trafficking victim; and entities to whom a driver may report suspected activity that might constitute human trafficking.
STATE OF NEW YORK
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6881
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 25, 2025
___________
Introduced by Sen. SKOUFIS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to requiring
bus drivers complete a human trafficking recognition training program
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Subdivisions 3 and 4 of section 509-b of the vehicle and
2 traffic law, as added by chapter 675 of the laws of 1985, are amended
3 and a new subdivision 5 is added to read as follows:
4 (3) has passed the bus driver physical examination administered pursu-
5 ant to regulations established by the commissioner; [and]
6 (4) is not disqualified to drive a motor vehicle pursuant to section
7 five hundred nine-c or any other provision of this article[.]; and
8 (5) has completed the human trafficking recognition training program
9 pursuant to section five hundred nine-bbb of this article.
10 § 2. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new section
11 509-bbb to read as follows:
12 § 509-bbb. Human trafficking recognition training program. (a) For
13 purposes of this section:
14 (i) "human trafficking victim" shall have the same meaning as defined
15 in section four hundred eighty-three-aa of the social services law.
16 (ii) "interagency task force on human trafficking" shall mean the
17 interagency task force on human trafficking established by section four
18 hundred eighty-three-ee of the social services law.
19 (iii) "the program" shall mean the human trafficking recognition
20 training program established under this section.
21 (b) The commissioner, in conjunction with the interagency task force
22 on human trafficking, the commissioner of the division of criminal
23 justice services and the commissioner of transportation, shall develop a
24 human trafficking recognition training program. The program may be
25 developed in conjunction or consultation with any other state, federal,
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11107-01-5
S. 6881 2
1 or non-profit organizations at the discretion of the commissioner. The
2 program may be conducted through in-person instruction, electronic and
3 video communication, or online programs.
4 (c) The program shall include, but not be limited to:
5 (i) the nature of human trafficking.
6 (ii) how human trafficking is defined in law.
7 (iii) how to identify someone who is human trafficking.
8 (iv) how to identify someone who is a human trafficking victim.
9 (v) entities to whom a driver may report suspected activity that might
10 constitute human trafficking, including but not limited to the national
11 human trafficking hotline, which connects victims of human trafficking
12 to:
13 (A) relief and recovery options; and
14 (B) social and legal services.
15 (d) The commissioner and the commissioner of the department of trans-
16 portation shall make available a list online of established or approved
17 human trafficking recognition programs for use by a bus company.
18 (e) All new employees required under section five hundred nine-b of
19 this article to complete the human trafficking recognition training
20 program shall complete such program within their first sixty days of
21 employment.
22 (f) The program shall be considered compensable time.
23 (g) Every bus company, as defined in section two of the transportation
24 law, and every other entity which hires bus drivers to drive a bus shall
25 maintain records indicating that each employee required to complete the
26 program pursuant to this section has completed such program. Such
27 records shall be kept on file by the bus company or other such entity
28 for the period during which the employee is employed by the motor bus
29 company and for one year after such employment ends.
30 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however,
31 section one of this act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth
32 day after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addi-
33 tion, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for
34 the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to
35 be made and completed on or before such effective date.
