Relating to human trafficking prevention training, by providing for certification of lodging providers who have voluntarily completed training and prohibiting the use of public funds to procure lodging, facilities, or services from noncertified lodging providers

This bill relates to human trafficking prevention training, the certification of lodging providers who have completed training, and prohibiting the use of public funds to procure lodging, facilities, or services only from noncertified lodging providers. The bill requires the office to combat human trafficking (office) to consult with other governmental agencies and nongovernmental or community organizations that have expertise in the areas of human trafficking prevention, victims protection and assistance, law enforcement, and prosecution, and with an Iowa organization that represents lodging providers, to develop and facilitate the delivery of human trafficking prevention training for lodging providers. 2. The training shall focus on the accurate and prompt identification and reporting of, or response to, suspected human trafficking and is required to contain specific topics as detailed in the bill. In lieu of developing human trafficking prevention training, the office may utilize human trafficking prevention training developed by other sources, as detailed in the bill, that contain all of the topics as specified in the bill and as approved by the commissioner of the department of public safety (commissioner). In lieu of facilitating the delivery of human trafficking prevention training, the office may utilize other sources as detailed in the bill to facilitate delivery of the training. The entity that facilitates delivery of the training to a lodging provider is required to maintain training records for each of the lodging provider’s employees. “Lodging provider’s employee” is defined in the bill as an individual who is employed by a lodging provider, including an owner, operator, manager, and temporary employee. The training records must be available for inspection by the commissioner within business days of the commissioner’s request to inspect the training records. The entity that facilitates delivery of the training must issue a certificate of completion of training to each employee of a lodging provider that completes the training. By no later than December 31, 2021, the bill requires the commissioner to approve a human trafficking prevention training program or programs that are developed for lodging providers and to specify the mode or modes of delivery of the training. The commissioner is also required to develop and maintain a process to show voluntary completion of the training by lodging providers. The process must include a certification that a lodging provider may display at the front entrance and check-in area of all lodging owned, operated, or owned and operated by a lodging provider, and on any internet site advertising or promoting the lodging. The commissioner must also provide a poster that can be downloaded from the department’s internet site that may be displayed in the front entrance and check-in area of all lodging owned, operated, or owned and operated by a certified lodging provider. The poster must be written in English and Spanish and contain the information as detailed in the bill. The commissioner is also required to create a publicly accessible internet site that identifies lodging providers that have completed the training. The internet site shall be maintained by the department of public safety. Beginning January 1, 2022, a lodging provider may voluntarily complete and certify to the commissioner that each of the lodging provider’s employees have completed the human trafficking prevention training. The lodging provider is required to maintain training records for each of the lodging provider’s employees pursuant to rules adopted by the commissioner. A lodging provider’s employee who acts in good faith is immune from civil liability for reporting suspected human trafficking activities to any law enforcement official. The commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary to implement and administer the requirements of the human trafficking prevention training for lodging providers. Effective on or after January 1, 2022, a public employee and a public employer are prohibited from using public funds to procure lodging at a site owned, operated, or owned and operated by a lodging provider that is not certified as having completed human trafficking prevention training. In addition, a public employee and a public employer are prohibited from using public funds to procure space or services for a conference, meeting, or banquet, or to host a conference, meeting, or banquet, at a site that offers lodging that is owned, operated, or owned and operated by a lodging provider that is not certified as having completed human trafficking prevention training. In an emergency, an exception may be granted by the administrative head or governing body in charge of the public employer. Prior to expending or committing public funds for lodging, space, or services, a public employer or a public employee shall confirm a lodging provider’s current certification status on the internet site maintained by the department of public safety. The bill defines a “public employee” as an individual employed by a public employer and a “public employer” as the state of Iowa, its boards, commissions, agencies, departments, and its political subdivisions including school districts and other special purpose districts.1.