Relates to establishing a sex trafficking awareness and prevention program

Showing the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.

• Democratic13
• Republican2

This bill has cosponsors from more than one party.

Shown in neutral colors by design; Agora is non-partisan.

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Roxanne J. Persaud says this is needed

Despite a concerted multi-disciplinary effort to combat human traffick- ing across the United States, New York State remains among the top five states by reported cases. Recently signed into law, Chapter 498 of 2025, formally adds transportation agencies - including the Department of Transportation, Department of Motor Vehicles, and New York State Thruway Authority - to the Interagency Task Force on Human Trafficking. While collaborative efforts between transportation agencies and the Task Force have previously occurred, no formal relationships existed prior. Under this bill, the Department of Motor Vehicles will implement a sex trafficking awareness and prevention program in conjunction with the Interagency Task Force on Human Trafficking and the Department of Trans- portation. The program will provide standardized training to commercial driver's license holders to increase awareness of the warning signs of sex trafficking and the resources available for reporting suspected activity. In addition to expanding education, this legislation will foster enhanced communication and coordination among agencies, advancing statewide efforts to combat human trafficking - a strategy recommended in the U.S. Department of Transportation's Winter 2021 publication Combating Human Trafficking (Public Roads FHWA-HRT-21-002). This bill also recognizes the contributions of private-sector leaders in combating trafficking, including Truckers Against Trafficking, Transpor- tation Leaders Against Human Trafficking, and Businesses Ending Slavery and Trafficking. For example, Truckers Against Trafficking has provided training and outreach to over 1,745,803 industry members (2023 Impact Report). New York State's vast, multi-modal transportation network encompassing seaports, airports, rail, and major border crossings with Canada, positions it as a critical hub for detecting and preventing trafficking. By establishing coordination and awareness training at the CDL school level, this legislation strengthens the State's capacity to combat trafficking, protect vulnerable populations, and leverages the transportation sector's unique role in enforcement and prevention.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.