Senator Stern’s Bill to Add Teeth to Human Trafficking Laws Receives Governor’s Signature
SACRAMENTO – Senator Henry Stern’s SB 630 was signed on Monday by Governor Newsom. The bill, recently endorsed by the Los Angeles City Council, will empower communities to take a local approach to fight human trafficking by making clear that current law does not prevent a local governing body from acting to prevent slavery or human trafficking.
“Local knowledge and power are our strongest weapons in the fight against modern slavery,” said Senator Stern. “SB 630 ensures that our laws are tools of justice for our most vulnerable, adding teeth to human trafficking enforcement for those on the frontlines. I want to thank Governor Newsom and my colleagues in the Legislature for committing themselves to the safety and wellbeing of human trafficking victims, and I look forward to continuing this fight until we eradicate modern slavery in California.”
“This amendment unites our local and state government's human trafficking enforcement efforts. From our smallest communities to our largest cities, SB 630 ensures that victims and survivors of human trafficking will be protected wherever they turn. I applaud Senator Henry Stern and Governor Newsom for their leadership in the fight to end human trafficking,” said Los Angeles City Councilwoman Nury Martinez
“It’s important that human trafficking victims have access to information about how to reach out for help and support. SB 630 ensures businesses and other entities required to post hotline information for human trafficking survivors can be better enforced by cities and counties across the state. Access to this information can be the difference between a victim remaining with his or her trafficker or reaching out for help. CAST along with NCJW was proud to co-sponsor this update to California law and thanks the Governor for signing this important piece of legislation,” said Kay Buck, CEO, Coalition to Abolish Slavery & Trafficking.
BACKGROUND
California has actively pursued strategies to eliminate human trafficking, including public notice requirements. Nationally, it was reported in 2015 that the most important provision for increasing the number of human trafficking arrests is the requirement that the National Human Trafficking Hotline number be posted in public places. SB 1193 added Section 52.6 to the California Civil Code, which outlines the victim assistance notice requirements, including telephone hotline numbers.
This code section has subsequently been expanded to include additional businesses and additional outreach methods that victims can utilize. In 2017, Senator Stern authored SB 225, which was signed into law and requires the California Department of Justice to revise its model human trafficking notice to include the option of texting, often the easiest method of communication for victims, in addition to calling the state and national hotlines for assistance.
Many businesses have complied with the posting requirements and many prosecutors have successfully enforced the law against those who do not, yet far too many businesses remain out of compliance. The lack of clarity around enforcement authority in the current law has left many local governments uncertain as to what lengths they can go to ensure enforcement of the law.
SB 630 makes SB 1193 even more effective by updating the enforcement provision in the measure, empowering local governments to enact tailored ordinances ensuring compliance with posting requirements. The measure was supported by the Los Angeles City Council, the Coalition to Abolish Slavery & Trafficking and the National Council of Jewish Women, CA Policy Advocacy Network. SB 630 received zero ‘noes’ before heading to Governor Newsom’s desk, marking Senator Stern’s first signed bill of the session.
A number of reports have highlighted the problem of human trafficking in and around the 27th Senate District. In January 2018, Soroptimist International of Simi Valley held an event with Stacy Jewell at Santa Susana High School to bring awareness to local human trafficking issues. As its website notes, in 2012, Los Angeles County was identified as a major hub for the commercial sexual exploitation of children. In January 2019, a statewide sting operation launched by the L.A. Regional Human Trafficking Task Force and more than 90 other agencies across California saved nearly 50 victims of human trafficking and led to the arrest of 339 people.
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