Committee hears bill to require hotel staff training, debate centers on timing and liability language

The House Economic Development and Tourism Committee heard House Bill 490 on a proposed requirement that hotel and motel proprietors and staff receive training to recognize and report human trafficking and that proprietors who "knew or should have reasonably known" trafficking occurred on their premises be subject to criminal penalties.

Representative Bazemore, the bill’s author, told the committee the measure "had come about because of human trafficking" and described discussions with local officials and the first lady about hotels and motels allegedly turning a blind eye to trafficking operations. Reading language from the bill, Bazemore said, "any proprietor, owner, operator, or employee of a hotel who knew or should have reasonably known such premises is being utilized for the purpose of or in connection with trafficking of persons ... shall, upon conviction, be subject to punishment and imprisonment."

Lawmakers focused most of the discussion on how quickly the required training should be delivered and who would be covered. Several members urged moving the training timeline earlier than the bill’s current six-month window. "I think just prior to reporting to duty is the best way to do that," Representative Prozinger said, proposing that new hires complete the training before their first workday. Other members pressed that current employees also be included in any rollout.

Representatives raised concerns about enforcement and the liability standard in the bill. Representative Clark asked whether the clause "or should have reasonably known" is too vague; Representative Anne Allen Westbrook cautioned that the phrase can carry a specific legal meaning and asked that the committee check with legislative counsel before changing established statutory language. A committee member noted that the code section cited in subsection b of the bill (as referenced during the hearing) uses the term "knowingly," and suggested harmonizing language with that provision.

Members from districts with airports and clusters of hotels described local experiences. Representative Williams said the problem is widespread: in his district near a major airport, "there are over 30 hotels in College Park alone," and he described incidents in which rooms were used for repeated deliveries without visible occupants. Representative Jones described similar concerns from Macon. Several lawmakers said training could deter collusion between employees and trafficking rings by making both staff and owners aware of reporting responsibilities and penalties.

The committee did not take a formal vote. The chair asked members to review lines 27 through 35 of the bill and directed the author to consult with legislative counsel to refine language; the bill was set to return to the committee Monday for further consideration. Representative Bazemore said she would meet with counsel and come back with revisions.

The hearing combined reading of statutory language, policy arguments about prevention and deterrence, and technical drafting questions about legal standards and training deadlines. No amendment or final action on House Bill 490 was recorded in the transcript from this hearing.