Amending Section 9-3902 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Property Licenses and Owner Accountability," by adding requirements that hotels and other places that offer rentals of temporary overnight lodging or spaces ensure their employees are trained on how to identify human trafficking activities and victims, and other related items; all under certain terms and conditions.

THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA HEREBY ORDAINS:

SECTION 1. Section 9-3902 is hereby amended as follows:

CHAPTER 9-3900. PROPERTY LICENSES AND OWNER ACCOUNTABILITY.

§ 9-3902. Licensing.

(1) Dwellings. No person shall operate a multiple-family dwelling, rooming house, dormitory or hotel, or offer for rent a one-family dwelling, two-family dwelling or a rooming unit therein without first obtaining a housing inspection license from the Department. Every person applying for a license shall supply, in addition to such information as required herein, such information as the Department requires and shall pay an annual fee as set forth in the administrative code.

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(c) Special Training Requirement for Hotels. Any person who owns or operates a hotel shall be required to provide training to employees on how to identify human trafficking activities and human trafficking victims.

(.1) Beginning on September 1, 2015, the owner or operator shall insure that each new employee hired by a hotel completes a human trafficking training program aimed at identifying human traffickers, which consists of viewing a training video, or other such training, approved by the Police Department, in collaboration with the Department of Public Health, the Department of Human Services, and the Department of Licenses and Inspections. Employees hired prior to September 1, 2015, shall complete the same human trafficking training by December 1, 2015.

(.2) Beginning in calendar year 2016 and going forward, hotels shall present certification to the Department that its employees have been trained pursuant to this Section

as part of its receipt or annual renewal of a housing inspection license.

(.3) For purposes of this subsection (c), “hotel” shall mean any hotel, motel, inn, guesthouse, rooming house or other establishment located within the City which holds itself out by any means including advertising, license, registration with any innkeeper's group, convention listing association, travel publication or similar association or with any government agency as being available to provide overnight lodging or use of facility space for consideration to persons seeking temporary accommodation; any place which advertises to the public at large or any segment thereof that it will provide beds, sanitary facilities or other space for a temporary period to members of the public at large; any place recognized as a hostelry, provided that portions of such facility which are devoted to persons who have established permanent residence shall not be included in this definition.

SECTION 2. This Ordinance shall take effect immediately.

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Explanation:

Italics

indicate new matter added.

End