GOVERNOR CUOMO VETOES SENATOR BIAGGI BILL REQUIRING HUMAN TRAFFICKING TRAINING FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION WORKERS

BRONX, NY – Yesterday, December 20th, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo vetoed legislation sponsored by State Senator Alessandra Biaggi (S3465), requiring all public transportation workers to undergo a human-trafficking recognition training program.

State Senator Alessandra Biaggi (D-Bronx/Westchester) issued the following statement:

“Human-traffickers rely heavily on public transportation to move their victims in plain sight across the country. Providing the necessary training for public transportation workers to recognize the signs of human-trafficking creates an important line of defense to stop it in its tracks. As human-trafficking continues to grow in the Bronx and across the state, we must do everything we can to protect New Yorkers against exploitation. We will go back to the drawing board and rework the language of this legislation, fight to get it passed in both houses again, and bring it back to the Governor for his signature. As I write these words, people are being trafficked in and around our city and state – there is no time to waste unless we have no regard for human life.”

“It’s unfortunate the governor vetoed this important bill. This sends the wrong message that the state is not taking proactive steps to address the crisis of human trafficking,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams. “We need to use every tool in our toolbox to combat this egregious exploitation that is inextricably tied up with movement – arming our public transportation workers with essential training is a no brainer.”