LAWRENCE J. HOGAN, JR., Governor Ch. 488
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Chapter 488
(Senate Bill 91)
AN ACT concerning
Business Regulation – Innkeepers – Maintenance of Guest Records and
Employee Human Trafficking Awareness Training and Policy
FOR the purpose of requiring innkeepers to establish and maintain a certain
record–keeping system for guest transactions and receipts; requiring the Governor’s
Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services and the Maryland
Department of Labor to approve certain training programs regarding human
trafficking; requiring innkeepers to take certain actions to provide employees with
training on the prevention, identification, and reporting of human trafficking; and
generally relating to innkeepers and human trafficking.
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments,
Article – Business Regulation
Section 15–201
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2015 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement)
BY adding to
Article – Business Regulation
Section 15–209 and 15–210
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2015 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement)
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:
Article – Business Regulation
15–201.
(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.
(b) “Innkeeper” means the owner, operator, manager, or keeper of a lodging
establishment, or the agent of an owner, operator, manager, or keeper of a lodging
establishment.
(c) “Lodging establishment” means an inn, hotel, motel, or other establishment
that has at least four rooms available for a fee to transient guests for lodging or sleeping
purposes.
15–209. Ch. 488 2022 LAWS OF MARYLAND
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(A) AN INNKEEPER SHALL ES TABLISH AND MAINTAIN A COMPUTERIZED
RECORD–KEEPING SYSTEM OF AL L GUEST TRANSACTIONS AND RECEIPTS.
(B) A RECORD MAINTAINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS SECTION SHALL BE
RETAINED BY THE INNK EEPER FOR NOT LESS T HAN 6 MONTHS AFTER THE DAT E OF
THE CREATION OF THE RECORD.
15–210.
(A) (1) THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE OF CRIME PREVENTION, YOUTH, AND
VICTIM SERVICES AND THE DEPARTMENT SHALL APPR OVE EDUCATIONAL
TRAINING PROGRAMS FO R THE ACCURATE AND P ROMPT IDENTIFICATION AND
REPORTING OF SUSPECT ED HUMAN TRAFFICKING .
(2) A TRAINING PROGRAM APP ROVED UNDER THIS SUB SECTION
MUST INCLUDE A VIDEO PRESENT ATION THAT:
(I) DEFINES:
1. EXPLOITATION OF A CH ILD; AND
2. HUMAN TRAFFICKING ; AND
(II) OFFERS GUIDANCE TO E MPLOYEES OF INNKEEPE RS ON:
1. RECOGNIZING POTENTIA L VICTIMS OF HUMAN
TRAFFICKING ;
2. THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN LABOR AND SE X
TRAFFICKING THAT ARE SPECIFIC TO THE HOTE L INDUSTRY;
3. ACTIVITIES COMMONLY ASSOCIATED WITH HUMA N
TRAFFICKING ; AND
4. THE ROLE OF EMPLOYEE S IN REPORTING AND
RESPONDING TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING .
(B) (1) AN INNKEEPER SHALL PR OVIDE A NEW EMPLOYEE OF THE
LODGING ESTABLISHMEN T WITH THE ANNUAL TR AINING DESCRIBED IN
SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION WITH IN 45 90 DAYS AFTER THE DATE THE
EMPLOYEE IS HIRED .
LAWRENCE J. HOGAN, JR., Governor Ch. 488
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(2) (I) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS
PARAGRAPH, ON OR BEFORE OCTOBER 1, 2023, AND EACH OCTOBER 1
THEREAFTER , AN INNKEEPER SHALL C ERTIFY TO THE DEPARTMENT THAT ALL
EMPLOYEES OF THE LOD GING ESTABLISHMENT H AVE RECEIVED THE ANN UAL
TRAINING PRESCRIBED BY THIS SECTION.
(II) THE REQUIREMENT UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH DOES NOT
APPLY TO AN EMPLOYEE FOR WHOM FEWER THAN 45 90 DAYS HAVE ELAPSED SI NCE
THE DATE THE EMPLOYE E WAS HIRED.
(C) AN INNKEEPER SHALL :
(1) ESTABLISH A PROCEDUR E FOR REPORTING POTE NTIAL
INSTANCES OF HUMAN T RAFFICKING BY:
(I) AN EMPLOYEE TO THE I NNKEEPER ; AND
(II) THE INNKEEPER TO THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE OF CRIME
PREVENTION, YOUTH, AND VICTIM SERVICES:
1. LAW ENFORCEMENT ; OR
2. THE NATIONAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING RESOURCE
CENTER HOTLINE;
(2) DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A HUMAN TR AFFICKING PREVENTION
POLICY FOR THE INNKE EPER’S EMPLOYEES THAT INC LUDES HOW TO :
(I) RECOGNIZE POTENTIAL VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRA FFICKING;
(II) RESPOND TO AN INDIVI DUAL WHO MAY BE OR I S A VICTIM OF
HUMAN TRAFFICKING ; AND
(III) CONNECT AN INDIVIDUA L WHO MAY BE OR IS A VICTIM OF
HUMAN TRAFFICKING WI TH ANY AVAILABLE RES OURCES; AND
(3) POST PROMINENTLY THE SIGN DEVELOPED BY TH E DEPARTMENT
UNDER § 15–207 OF THIS SUBTITLE IN A LOCATION CONSPICUO US TO THE
INNKEEPER’S EMPLOYEES .
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
October 1, 2022.
Enacted under Article II, § 17(c) of the Maryland Constitution, May 29, 2022.