Press Release from District Attorney

Press Release from Appalachian Circuit District Attorney’s Office, B. Alison Sosebee, District Attorney.According to research conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Atlanta is one of the 14 U.S. cities named to have the highest rate of children used for prostitution. To combat this trend, the General Assembly, during the 2013 Legislative session passed House Bill 141 (Kidnapping; certain businesses and establishments post a model notice to enable persons who are the subject of human trafficking to obtain help and services) and the bill signed into law by Governor Nathan Deal on May 6, 2013 as O.C.G.A. 16-5-47.

The new law requires certain businesses and establishments to post a notice to enable persons who are subject to human trafficking to obtain help and services. The law also directs the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to post a model notice on their website. A link to the model notice is provided below.

The businesses and establishments specified in the law are required to have a notice posted in a specified location by September 15, 2013. If a business or establishment fails to comply with the law, law enforcement can take action which, upon subsequent offenses, could result in the business or establishment owner being fined up to $5,000.

I would strongly urge businesses to review the law and post the necessary notifications in a prominent place within their establishments. Those specific addresses include:
1. Adult entertainment establishments
2. Bars
3. Primary Airports
4. Passenger Rail or Light Rail Stations
5. Bus Stations
6. Truck Stops
7. Emergency Rooms within general acute care hospitals
8. Urgent care centers
9. Farm labor contractors and day haulers
10. Privately operated job recruitment centers
11. Safety rest areas located along interstate highways in this state.
12. Businesses and establishments that offer massage or bodywork services by a person who is not a massage therapist.

A copy of O.C.G.A. 16-5-47 may be found at: http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/201
32014/135844.pdf

Additionally, the model public notice may be found at:
http://gbi.georgia.gov/press-releases/2013-09-12/human-trafficking-notice-law-goes-effect