# Subtitle 17 – Retaliation for Human Trafficking Reports

Current through 2026-07-17. Source: City of Balt., Md., Ord. 26-129. Published by the Baltimore City Department of Legislative Reference.

## § 17-1 Definitions.

Balt., Md., Code art. 11, § 17-1 (2026)

(a) In this subtitle, the following terms have the meanings indicated.

(b) “Covered employer” means any person that employs 5 or more full-time equivalent employees in the City of Baltimore.

(c) “Human trafficking” means:

  (1) sex trafficking in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform a commercial sex act has not attained 18 years of age; or

  (2) the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery.

(d)

*History: Ord. 15-359*

*History: Ord. 16-503*

*History: Ord. 22-125*

## § 17-2

Balt., Md., Code art. 11, § 17-2 (2026)

Reserved

## § 17-3 Retaliation or discrimination prohibited.

Balt., Md., Code art. 11, § 17-3 (2026)

A covered employer may not take or refuse to take a personnel action or otherwise retaliate or discriminate against any person as a reprisal for the person’s having made a good-faith report of a suspected act of human trafficking to that person’s employer or any appropriate agency.

*History: Ord. 15-359*

## §§ 17-4 to 17-5

Balt., Md., Code art. 11, § 17-4 to 17-5 (2026)

Reserved

## § 17-6 Criminal penalties.

Balt., Md., Code art. 11, § 17-6 (2026)

Any person who violates any provision of this subtitle is guilty of a misdemeanor and, on conviction, is subject to a fine of not more than $1,000 or imprisonment for not more than 90 days or both fine and imprisonment for each offense.

*History: Ord. 15-359*