Human Trafficking Notice
The State of Georgia has taken a comprehensive and aggressive approach to fighting human trafficking across the state, bringing together a coalition of law enforcement, state agencies, non-profit and for-profit organizations, faith institutions and subject matter experts – all dedicated to eliminating this dangerous threat to Georgians.
Human trafficking is modern day slavery that touches every corner of the globe. This multi-billion criminal enterprise is the fastest growing crime in the world. Human trafficking involves both commercial sexual exploitation and labor servitude. The average age of entry for victims is 12-14 years old.
The term "human trafficking" is used in common parlance to describe many forms of exploitation of human beings. Human trafficking crimes focus on the act of compelling or coercing a person's labor, services, or commercial sex acts; or using children under the age of 18 for commercial sex acts. The coercion can be subtle or overt, physical or psychological, but it must be used to coerce a victim into performing labor, services, or commercial sex acts. The laws against trafficking are rooted in the prohibition against slavery and involuntary servitude guaranteed by the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.
The victims include some of the most vulnerable in society: abused children who’ve run away from home, women with few job skills, immigrants who fear deportation or retaliation against their families overseas if they speak up. For them, there is little hope of escap
House Bill 141 was passed during the 2013 session of the General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Nathan Deal on May 6, 2013 as O.C.G.A. 16-5-47. The law requires certain businesses and establishments to post a notice to enable persons who are the subject of human trafficking to obtain help and services. The law also directs the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to post a model notice on its website. A link to the model notice is provided below. The businesses and establishments specified in the law are required to have the notice posted in a specified location by September 15, 2013. If a business or establishment fails to comply with the law, law enforcement can take action which, upon subsequent offenses, could result in the business or establishment owner being fined up to $5,000.
The Georgia Human Trafficking Poster informs victims of slavery and human trafficking that they are protected under international, federal, and state law. The poster also provides information on how to contact the National Human Trafficking Resource Center via the anonymous and confidential 24-hour hotline, and the Statewide Georgia Hotline for Domestic Minor Trafficking.
Per Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 16-5-47), the following businesses and other establishments are required to post the notice in each public restroom and in a conspicuous place near the public entrance of the business or establishment or where similar notices are customarily posted:
Adult entertainment establishments- Bars
- Primary airports
- Passenger rail or light rail stations
- Bus stations
- Truck stops
- Emergency rooms within general acute care hospitals
- Urgent care centers
- Farm labor contractors and day haulers
- Privately operated job recruitment centers
- Safety rest areas located along interstate highways in this state
- Hotels
- Businesses and establishments that offer massage or bodywork services by a person who is not a massage therapist and
- Government buildings