(A) Definitions.
LODGING ESTABLISHMENT. An inn, hotel, motel or any other facility used for occupancy with ten or more rooms, for the purpose of housing transient guests, where overnight sleeping accommodations are provided.
(B) Lodging establishment registration; training; certification.
(1) Any person who owns or operates a lodging establishment within the county shall be required to provide training to employees on how to identify human trafficking activities and human trafficking victims.
(2) Beginning on May 1, 2019, each new employee of a lodging establishment within the county shall complete a human trafficking training program approved by a national hotel brand, a recognized national lodging association, or other training approved by the Human Relations Department. Employees hired prior to May 1, 2019 shall complete the human trafficking training in this subsection by November 1, 2019.
(3) Beginning on November 1, 2019, lodging establishments registered pursuant to this section, shall be required to annually certify to the designated division of Frederick County Government that all of their employees have completed the required training. The designated division shall issue guidelines prescribing the process for annual certification within 120 days after the effective date of this Bill.
(C) The Interagency Internal Audit Authority (IIAA) of Frederick County shall include this training requirement as part of its audit of hotels and lodging establishments.
(D) Penalties.
(1) A failure to provide training to employees on how to identify human trafficking activities and human trafficking victims under section (B)(1) and (B)(2) of this section shall be a Class A offense under § 1-1-9 of the Frederick County Code and subject to a fine of up to $1,000 and shall be prosecuted in accordance with the provision of § 1-1-9.
(Bill No. 18-29, 10-23-2018)