Human Trafficking Fingerprint Background Check Protection Act of 2024

[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9755 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 9755

  To require owners and employees of massage wellness spas to undergo 
   fingerprint-based background checks to mitigate the risk of human 
                 trafficking and enhance public safety.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 23, 2024

 Ms. Boebert introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                       Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To require owners and employees of massage wellness spas to undergo 
   fingerprint-based background checks to mitigate the risk of human 
                 trafficking and enhance public safety.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Human Trafficking Fingerprint 
Background Check Protection Act of 2024''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSE; FINDINGS.

    (a) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to require owners and 
employees of massage wellness spas to undergo fingerprint-based 
background checks to mitigate the risk of human trafficking and enhance 
public safety.
    (b) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) Human trafficking remains a grave concern, with massage 
        wellness spas being identified as venues frequently associated 
        with such criminal activities.
            (2) The protection of vulnerable individuals and the 
        prevention of human trafficking are paramount.
            (3) Comprehensive background checks, particularly 
        fingerprint-based ones, have proven to be effective in 
        identifying potential risks and preventing exploitation.

SEC. 3. FINGERPRINT BACKGROUND CHECKS.

    (a) All owners and employees of massage wellness spas, including 
independent contractors, shall be subject to a fingerprint-based 
background check.
    (b) The background check shall be conducted by a law enforcement 
agency, or an entity authorized by the relevant jurisdiction to perform 
such checks.
    (c) The results of the background check shall be reviewed to 
determine the presence of any criminal history, particularly related to 
offenses such as human trafficking, sexual exploitation, or violence.
    (d) Owners and employees must pass the background check prior to 
being able to own, be employed, or allowed to continue their employment 
in a massage parlor.

SEC. 4. COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT.

    (a) Owners of massage wellness spas shall be responsible for 
ensuring that all employees undergo the required background checks.
    (b) Failure to comply with the provisions of this Act shall result 
in penalties as determined by the relevant jurisdiction, which may 
include fines, suspension, or revocation of licenses.

SEC. 5. REPORTING.

    Law enforcement agencies shall report any findings of criminal 
activity uncovered during the background check process to appropriate 
authorities for further investigation and action.

SEC. 6. TRAINING AND ENFORCEMENT.

    (a) Owners and employees of massage wellness spas shall undergo 
training on recognizing and reporting signs of human trafficking.
    (b) Educational materials and resources shall be made available to 
massage parlor owners and employees to raise awareness about human 
trafficking and related issues.

SEC. 7. ENACTMENT.

    This Act shall take effect 120 days after the date of enactment.

SEC. 8. RELIABILITY OF FINGERPRINT BACKGROUND CHECKS.

    (a) Fingerprint-based background checks are widely recognized as 
one of the most reliable methods for identifying individuals and 
assessing their criminal history.
    (b) Fingerprinting offers a unique identifier for each individual, 
significantly reducing the likelihood of false positives or identity 
confusion.
    (c) The use of fingerprints in background checks enhances accuracy 
and completeness by accessing criminal records databases at local, 
State, and Federal levels.
    (d) Studies have shown that fingerprint-based background checks 
have a high degree of accuracy and are effective in identifying 
individuals with criminal histories.
    (e) Law enforcement agencies, government entities, and employers 
across various sectors rely on fingerprint-based background checks as a 
standard practice for vetting individuals' criminal history.
    (f) By mandating fingerprint-based background checks for owners and 
employees of massage wellness spas, this Act ensures a robust and 
reliable screening process to identify potential risks and protect 
against human trafficking and related crimes.

SEC. 9. DEFINITION.

    The term ``massage wellness spa'' is defined as a business 
establishment where various forms of massage therapy are offered. A 
facility where licensed massage therapists provide therapeutic 
treatments designed to promote relaxation, relieve stress, alleviate 
pain, and improve overall health and well-being. This definition 
includes massage parlors, massage facility, massage spa, and any other 
facility where the core service is to provide massage services of any 
kind.
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