Temporary Shelter Human Trafficking Notice Requirements

Baltimore City Code art. 15, subtit. 42A

in effect

Baltimore City Code, Article 15, § 42A-1 Definitions.

§ 42A-1. Definitions. (a) In general. In this subtitle, the following terms have the meaning indicated. (b) Homeless; homelessness. “Homeless” or “homelessness” has the meaning stated in 24 C.F.R. 91.5 {“Definitions”}. (c) Homeless shelter. “Homeless shelter” means a facility that: (1) provides temporary shelter with overnight sleeping accommodations for homeless individuals; and (2) does not require occupants to sign a lease. (d) Human trafficking. (1) In general. “Human trafficking” means the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, slavery, or commercial sexual exploitation. (2) Inclusions. “Human trafficking” includes labor trafficking and sex trafficking. (e) Transitional housing unit. “Transitional Housing” has the meaning stated in 24 C.F.R. 91.5 {“Definitions”}.

Baltimore City Code, Article 15, § 42A-2 Requirements.

§ 42A-2. Requirements. (a) The operator of the homeless shelter or transitional housing program must post a sign that states the following: “REPORT HUMAN TRAFFICKING National Human Trafficking Resource Center Call 1-888-373-7888 or text “BeFree” (233733) CALL FOR HELP IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW: • is being forced to have sex without consent • has had an ID or documents taken away • is being threatened by or is in debt to an employer • wants to leave a job but cannot freely do so TOLL-FREE ‡ 24/7 ‡ CONFIDENTIAL ‡ INTERPRETERS AVAILABLE This sign is required by Baltimore City law”. (b) The sign must: (1) be at least 16 by 20 inches in size; (2) contain the text required under this section in English, Spanish, and any other languages required by the federal Voting Rights Act for voting materials in Baltimore City; and (3) draw attention to the phone and text numbers of the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline by showing the phone and text numbers in bold type. (c) The person in charge may meet the requirements of this section by creating signs using a font size of not less than 30 points for the hotline and text numbers and a font size of not less than 12 points for the body text, or using copies of the signs created and made available online by the United States Department of Homeland Security’s Blue Campaign website.

Baltimore City Code, Article 15, § 42A-3 Sign location.

§ 42A-3. Sign location. (a) Placement. A copy of the human trafficking sign required by § 42A-2 {“Requirements”} of this subtitle shall be posted by the person in charge at the homeless shelter or transitional housing program facility or living area in a clear and conspicuous place where it can be easily seen and read by individuals staying at the homeless shelter or transitional housing program facility or living area. (b) Locations. Locations where the required human trafficking sign may be placed include: (1) locker rooms; (2) cafeterias; (3) areas where 1 or more individuals sleep; and (4) other locations in the homeless shelter or transitional housing program facility or living area where individuals receiving program services regularly congregate.

Baltimore City Code, Article 15, § 42A-4 Penalties for failure to post signage.

§ 42A-4. Penalties for failure to post signage. (a) In general. (1) Prerequisite to issuance. A citation under this section may only be issued after the issuance of a written warning and a failure to correct the violation within 30 days of the date of the warning. (2) Authorization to issue. In addition to any other civil or criminal remedy or enforcement procedure, this subtitle may be enforced by issuance of an environmental citation under City Code Article 1, Subtitle 40 {“Environmental Control Board”}. (b) Process not exclusive. The issuance of a citation to enforce this subtitle does not preclude pursuing any other civil or criminal remedy or enforcement action authorized by law. (c) Each day a separate offense. Each day a violation continues is a separate offense. (Ord. 22-149.)

Source: City of Baltimore Department of Legislative Reference, City of Baltimore Law Library (codes.baltimorecity.gov; Open Law Library bulk XML)URL: https://codes.baltimorecity.gov/us/md/cities/baltimore/code/15/42AFetched: 10/25/2026