Sec. 250.125. - Public Lodging, Gas Station and Convenience Store Establishment Human Trafficking Public and Employee Awareness.

(a) Pursuant to F.S. § 509.096, Public Lodging Establishments regulated by Part I of F.S. Ch. 509, must display public awareness signs in a conspicuous location that is clearly visible to the public and employees of the establishment and must provide human trafficking training to all housekeepers and front desk or reception employees. In addition to the requirements of F.S. § 509.096, and all gas stations and convenience stores, shall also display public awareness signs on the inside of the main access door of all Guest rooms and public restrooms. The term "Guest" shall have the meaning defined by F.S. § 509.013, as it may be amended from time to time. Any Guest room or public restroom not displaying the public awareness sign shall constitute a separate violation. The required public awareness signs located in the Guest rooms and public restrooms must be at least three inches by seven inches in size and must be printed in at least 12-point type and must state substantially the following in English and Spanish or English and such other language as determined by industry demographic: If you or someone you know is being forced to engage in an activity and cannot leave-whether it is prostitution or sex work, housework, farm work, factory work, retail work, restaurant work, or any other activity- call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at 1-888-373-7888 or text INFO or HELP to 233-733 to access help and services. Victims of slavery and human trafficking are protected under United States and Florida law. This notice is posted pursuant to Section 250.125 , Jacksonville Ordinance Code. (b) Within six months of the effective date of this ordinance, all Public Lodging Establishments, gas stations and convenience stores shall provide training to all employees on spotting, reporting and preventing human trafficking. Acceptable training literature and programs include those developed and presented by the American Hotel & Lodging Association, the Polaris Project, ECPAT-USA, Business Ending Slavery & Trafficking and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Other programs not listed may be approved by the Director of the Neighborhoods Department. The manager or owner (or designated representative) must certify to the Director of the Neighborhoods Department on a quarterly basis the names of all employees who have received the required training and identify the name of the program used for the training. (c) This subsection shall be enforced by the Director of the Neighborhoods Department, or his or her designee. Violators shall be provided a warning and reasonable opportunity to correct a violation before enforcement is sought. Violations of this Subpart shall be considered a Class C offense, with each day and each separate violation of the requirements of this Subpart constituting a separate and enforceable violation. (d) Within 90 days of the effective date of this ordinance, the Neighborhoods Department shall provide information about or a link to the educational programs identified herein for those businesses affected by this ordinance. In addition, the Tax Collector shall be encouraged to provide all applicants of occupational licenses from affected businesses with an educational statement explaining the requirements of the ordinance, which the Neighborhoods Department shall provide. (e) Because it has been demonstrated that approximately 81 percent of sex trafficking occurs in public lodging establishments, if any requirement contained in this Section is determined to be preempted to the State, then rather than mandatory compliance with Section 250.125 , the City would strongly encourage those public lodging establishments to voluntarily comply with these requirements. (Ord. 2020-74-E , § 8)