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Bucks County to regulate massage parlors; prevent human trafficking

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An ordinance designed to more closely regulate legitimate massage parlors and expose illegal operations at others, was unanimously approved by the Bucks County Commissioners late last month.
While a number of Bucks’ municipalities have similar provisions, the countywide law is the first of its kind in Pennsylvania.
“This seeks to eradicate human trafficking…and root out and deter illicit operations that would seek to exploit and victimize individuals under the guise of legitimacy,” said Bucks County Assistant County Solicitor Chelsey Jackman, after the ordinance was passed during National Human Trafficking Awareness Month.
“In about the last decade, one of the questions that I was so often asked in dealing with human trafficking was, does it really exist in Bucks County,” said Jackman, who served as chief of the human trafficking division in the district attorney’s office before becoming assistant county solicitor.
“And, it does,” she added. “This modern day slavery is able to thrive in these massage parlors under the front of a legitimate business, but that’s where sex work and unfair labor practices are occurring.”
Under the ordinance, massage parlors can operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. The door must be unlocked during business hours and clients must enter through the front door, unless they have an exemption from the health department. An owner or manager must be on-site while the business is open and a list of clients and the services they received must be kept for at least 90 days after services are provided, among other requirements.

The county health department and the Bucks County Consumer Protection/Weight and Measures office will inspect the businesses. A new investigator has recently been hired, said Jackman. Violations can range from $100 to $1,000, and under certain circumstances a possible jail sentence of up to 10 days can be sought.
Recognizing the law could be seen as targeting immigrants, as many who work in the businesses are of Asian descent, Jackman stressed, “the goal is to protect victims” and support legitimate spas and massage parlors.
Julie Dugery, of the Bucks Coalition Against Trafficking, applauded the effort.
“Thank you for raising awareness of this crime of human trafficking,” she told officials during the commissioner’s meeting. “Since BCAP was established in 2013, we have made steady progress in raising awareness and continuing to improve the community response and support services for victims of human trafficking who live among us.”
Business owners have until Nov. 15 to apply for a new license under the law.


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