Assemblymember Pamela J. Hunter (D-Syracuse) announced that the Assembly passed a bill she sponsored that would require employees of public transportation services to complete a human trafficking recognition training program (A.1283). The program would train transportation employees to recognize signs that someone might be a victim of human trafficking and teach them how to help potential victims.

“Human trafficking is often a hidden crime, yet our public buses and trains right here in Syracuse are used to move victims across the city, state and country,” Hunter said. “Providing transportation employees with the knowledge to recognize the signs, identify a victim and take action will help us combat this horrific crime and save innocent lives.”

Under this measure, all public transportation services must require employees who work directly with customers to complete a human trafficking recognition training program. The bill requires that the NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services and the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance establish this program, with the help of the New York State Interagency Task Force on Human Trafficking. Because many traffickers use coercion to ensure victims don’t seek help, this training program is critical for employees to know the right questions to ask a potential victim and understand how to proceed, noted Hunter.

Many human traffickers rely on public transportation to move their victims. According to a survey by the Polaris Project, 26% of survivors said that public and mass transportation played a role in at least one of their exit attempts.^[1] This program would prevent recruitment scenarios and help more victims successfully escape, adds Hunter.

This despicable crime has taken root in Central New York. Many innocent youth have fallen victim to human trafficking in Syracuse, and trafficking situations can be harder to recognize here than in larger cities, as local advocates find that many cases begin on social media.^[2]

Hunter has been a staunch advocate for human trafficking victims and has helped pass numerous measures to ensure they get the help and support they deserve. Earlier this year, she helped pass a bill that exempts those convicted of a prostitution offense and are identified as victims of trafficking from having to provide DNA to be included in the state database when the offense relates to their trafficking (A.459-A). Additionally, in 2018, she helped pass a measure that improves procedures for identifying trafficked persons, helping to provide safe housing and counseling for victims (A.3223-A of 2018). Hunter also helped pass legislation mandating commercial casino gaming employees and hospitality workers complete training designed to increase their ability to identify possible victims of human trafficking (A.7034-A and A.6834-B of 2018).

[1] polarisproject.org/sites/default/files/A%20Roadmap%20for%20Systems%20and%20Industries%20to%20Prevent%20and%20Disrupt%20Human%20Trafficking%20-%20Transportation%20Industry.pdf

[2] spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-ny/news/2018/11/08/sex-trafficking-growing-in-syracuse