Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research
BILL
ANALYSIS
Transportation Committee
HB 2077
Brief Description: Concerning the placement of human trafficking informational posters in rest areas.
Sponsors: Representatives Griffey, Orwall, Rude, Simmons, Taylor, Davis, Klippert, Leavitt, Berg, Senn, Wicks, Kraft, Dent, Santos, Mosbrucker, Morgan, Paul, Chambers, Jacobsen, Robertson, Pollet and Sutherland.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Requires the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), in consultation with human trafficking victim advocates, to develop content for informational posters to place in safety rest areas.
  • Requires the WSDOT to install the informational posters in every restroom at every safety rest area by December 31, 2022.
  • Requires the WSDOT to report on the status of the poster installations to the transportation committees of the Legislature by January 15, 2023.
Hearing Date: 1/31/22
Staff: Christine Thomas (786-7142).
Background:

Human Trafficking.  Human trafficking is a federal crime that involves exploiting a person for labor, services, or commercial sex.  Human trafficking as sex trafficking occurs when a commercial sex act is induced by force, coercion, or when the person induced to perform the act is a minor.  Human trafficking also occurs when a person is recruited, transported, harbored, or obtained for labor or service through the use of force, fraud, or coercion to subject that person to involuntary servitude, debt bondage, or slavery.
 
Safety Rest Areas.  The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) owns and operates 47 safety rest areas across the state, most open to the public 24 hours a day.  Features of the safety rest areas include parking, ADA accessible restrooms, drinking water, traveler information, vending machines, picnic areas, public telephones, and more.  The WSDOT estimates more than 23 million visitors used the state's safety rest areas in 2020. 
 
Human Trafficking Informational Posters.  In 2010 Senate Bill 6330 was enacted that allows the WSDOT to work with human trafficking victim advocates to develop informational posters for placement in restrooms in safety rest areas.  The WSDOT may adopt policies on the placement of these posters and the posters may be printed in a variety of languages.  If the WSDOT produces the informational posters, the toll-free telephone numbers for the National Human Trafficking Resource Center and the Washington State Office of Crime Victims Advocacy must be included on the posters.
Summary of Bill:

The WSDOT must consult with human trafficking victim advocates to develop content for informational posters to be placed in restrooms in safety rest areas.  The bill directs the WSDOT to adopt policies for the placement of the informational posters.  The informational posters must be printed in a variety of languages, include a description of activities that constitute human trafficking along with contact information for seeking help, and be made of durable material and be permanently affixed.  The WSDOT must install the informational posters in every restroom at every safety rest area by December 31, 2022.  Beginning January 1, 2023, or one month after poster installation, whichever is sooner, the WSDOT must inspect the posters monthly to ensure they are in fair condition and legible.  The WSDOT must report the status of the informational poster installations to the transportation committees by January 15, 2023.  The report must include the number of posters installed, the location of the poster installations, and the completion date of the poster installations.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 25, 2022.
Effective Date: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.