NOVA examines ordinance aimed to curb human trafficking in Bucks County

The Bucks Coalition Against Trafficking, which is a part of NOVA, will hold the meeting via Zoom from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Those interested in joining viewing the presentation may do so by registering here https://novabucks.org/events/.

Deputy Bucks County Solicitor Chelsey Jackman, a former Bucks County prosecutor, will be presenting.

In January, county commissioners adopted an ordinance to regulate massage parlors. Officials have said human trafficking and forced sex work can happen in massage parlors under the guise of legitimate business.

The ordinance has several directives, including how businesses must maintain cleanliness and have good lighting, limiting hours from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m., and the maintaining records of clientele and services for 90 days.

Commissioners pass ordinance:Does human trafficking happen here? Bucks County says look no further than illicit massage businesses. Here's the plan to stop it.

The ordinance makes it unlawful for an owner or employee to “expose their sexual or genital area to any customer or other person” or to “to place their hands upon, touch, fondle or otherwise have any physical contact with a sexual or genital area of any other person” or to offer that.

Penalties for those violating the ordinance include fines between $100 and $1,000 and those found guilty of the “unlawful conduct” could face a jail sentence of up to 10 days.

The ordinance is the first of its kind in the state, according to NOVA.

The presentation at the meeting will go over how the ordinance will be implemented in the county and how the regulations set forth in the ordinance can keep the community safe.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: NOVA hosting meeting on law to fight human trafficking in Bucks County