Louisiana Family Forum Action is a nonprofit advocacy

Truck stops, strip clubs and other businesses would face fines for failing to post a human-trafficking hotline number under legislation that advanced Thursday.

The fines, which would range from $50 to $2,500, are a compromise agreed upon by the House Committee on Judiciary.

House Bill 126 initially called for businesses to lose their alcohol licenses for not advertising resources for victims of sexual exploitation, forced labor or unwanted organ removal.

State Rep. Valarie Hodges, R-Denham Springs, characterized HB126 as a way to ensure a child or a teenager sees a phone number.

Bobby Jindal included human trafficking measures in his crime package last year. A proposal backed by the governor created life sentences for certain traffickers

At the same time, state Sen. Sharon Broome, D-Baton Rouge, successfully sponsored legislation requiring strip clubs,Home energy monitor  highway truck stops and other businesses to display information about the national hotline for trafficking victims. Months later, the number is not being posted despite the law, said Kathleen Benfield with Louisiana Family Forum Action.

Benfield said Louisiana Family Forum Action asked Hodges to help put some teeth in the law.

Louisiana Family Forum Action is a nonprofit advocacy organization associated with Louisiana Family Forum, which characterizes itself as a voice for traditional families.

Benfield said the hotline needs to be posted in places such as strip club dressing rooms, where women could see them while separated from the men who might be trafficking them.

Leah Trammell, Home energy management  a research analyst with Trafficking Hope, said the national hotline puts victims in touch with partners who then contact local law enforcement.

“Human trafficking is the fastest-growing criminal industry in the world,” she said.

Hodges introduced the bill as a way to cut into a multimillion-dollar criminal industry.

State Rep. Jeff Arnold, D-New Orleans, said the bill did a little more than that, noting that businesses’ alcohol permits could be revoked.

Hodges quickly offered an amendment to strip that language from the bill. The legislation then zipped through the committee.

The BAMart Silent Auction is an online-only bidding war, but, this year, also a first, the more than 100 works were mounted in the Hole's gallery space. The collection, donated by mostly Brooklyn-based artists, went on display on Tuesday, when guests gathered to peruse the offerings and, potentially,Power monitor  bid in real time via iPad kiosks, courtesy of virtual art marketplace platform Paddle8.

While checking out the art, guests could indulge in complimentary cocktails that were named in honor of the event's co-chairs—Hole proprietor Kathy Grayson, collector Beth Rudin DeWoody and artist Cindy Sherman. "The Kathy's where it's at," enthused Shawn Dezan of his specialty drink.

Mr. Dezan was simultaneously shooting a six-second video for the social-media site Vine. He zeroed in on a neon sign of the word "angst" by Kasper Sonne, but did not bid.

Karim Marquez was admiring a Philip Guston piece. "I'm bidding on new artists and famous artists," said Mr. Marquez. He added with a laugh, "I wish I had more money. You get drunk and you want to keep bidding!"

Another guest, Amelia Abdullahsani, was taken by a Mia Taylor. About the acquisition process, she said: "I try not to get too neurotic about it." Her verdict? She'd likely continue to compete if someone attempted to outbid her.

When the lights dimmed, select gallery-goers walked north for a private after party at the Standard East Village Hotel's Chez Andre. Highlights of the invite-only late-night portion of the evening included lively lip-syncing by the arresting drag troupe Chez Deep and a rap performance from Calez Ceito, who was joined onstage by Grant Yanney.