Beginning January 1, 2022, lodging providers, in order to
accept public funds for any of the purposes stated in Iowa Code section
80.45A(5)
"c," must complete and certify to the commissioner that each
of the lodging provider's employees has completed human trafficking prevention
training. All current, certified lodging providers are listed on the office to
combat human trafficking website.
(1)
Application. Any lodging provider seeking certification of
completed human trafficking prevention training shall submit a completed
application form to the office to combat human trafficking website. The online
application form shall not be considered complete unless all required
information is submitted, including verification of employee training
certificates, and shall not be processed until it is complete.
Note: The website for human trafficking prevention training and
certification for employees, lodging providers, and training providers is
www.stophtiowa.org.
(2)
Fee. There is no fee for
lodging providers to request or renew a trafficking prevention training
certification. Approved organizational training providers, under subrule
29.4(2), may charge fees for training programs; however, lodging providers are
under no obligation to utilize such training providers.
(3)
Maintenance of records.
Lodging providers shall maintain up-to-date human trafficking prevention
training certification records on all current employees, at all times, in order
to maintain a valid certification. A lodging provider shall produce human
trafficking prevention training records for each employee and complete employee
lists upon request by the office to combat human trafficking at any
time.
(4)
Revocation. The commissioner has authorized the office to
combat human trafficking to revoke a lodging provider's certification at any
time. If all employees of a certified lodging provider fail to renew their
trainings every three years, the office to combat human trafficking shall
remove the lodging provider from the approved list of providers and revoke the
lodging provider's certification. Failure to maintain records of individual
employee certifications may result in the revocation of a lodging provider's
certification.
(5)
Certification expiration. All human trafficking prevention
training certificates issued by the office to combat human trafficking shall
bear an expiration date. All employees of a certified lodging provider must
complete approved human trafficking prevention training every three years for
the lodging provider to maintain a valid certification and to receive public
funds.
(6)
Grace
periods. Lodging providers are responsible for ensuring lodging
certifications are current and valid, and that new employees successfully
complete human trafficking prevention training. Employees shall have a grace
period of 30 days from when their previous training certificate expires to
complete a new, approved training. Certificates expire three years from the
date on which they were issued.
a. Lodging
providers. The application shall be filed no later than 30 days after beginning
operation in this state or the date on which an existing training certification
expires.
b. Employees of lodging
providers. The application shall be filed no later than 30 days after the date
of hire or the date on which an existing training certification
expires.
