(a) In this section, "transit service" and "transit station" have the meanings stated in § 7-101 of this article. (b) This section applies only to: (1) An employee who is: (i) A State employee who works at a transit station, airport, port facility, or highway rest stop; (ii) A State employee who provides transit service; or (iii) Employed under a contract with the State to provide transit service; or (2) An employer of an employee described in item (1) of this subsection. (c) (1) The Department shall: (i) In consultation with stakeholders, develop or identify and implement a training program that includes a curriculum on the identification and reporting of suspected human trafficking; and (ii) Administer the training program: 1. To all employees and contract employees of the Department; and 2. To the extent feasible, during regular working hours. (2) The training program shall: (i) Include a definition of human trafficking; and (ii) Offer guidance to employees and contract employees on the identification of potential victims of human trafficking and protocols for reporting suspected human trafficking. (d) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, on or before January 1, 2027, and each January 1 thereafter, each employer shall certify to the Department that all the employer's employees have completed the training program. (2) An employer shall: (i) Provide a new employee with the training required under this section within 90 days after the date of hire; and (ii) To the extent feasible, administer the training program during regular working hours. (e) Each employer, in consultation with the Department, shall: (1) Establish a procedure for employees and contract employees to report suspected incidents of human trafficking to the appropriate local agencies, including the designated regional navigator; and (2) Implement a human trafficking prevention policy for employees and contract employees by providing information on how to: (i) Recognize potential victims of human trafficking; (ii) Respond to an individual who may be or is a victim of human trafficking; and (iii) Connect an individual who may be or is a victim of human trafficking with available resources. (f) An employer, an employee, or a contract employee may not be held civilly or criminally liable for reporting or responding in good faith to a suspected incident of human trafficking. (g) To the extent practicable, the Department shall require frequent public service announcements with safety information for human trafficking victims to be made, in both English and Spanish, at transit stations, airports, port facilities, and highway rest stops.
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