SACRAMENTO – Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today signed legislation to better protect victims of human trafficking and bills to support education, prevention and law enforcement efforts to fight trafficking.
The Governor signed the following bills today:
• AB 1585 by Assemblymember Luis Alejo (D-Salinas): Allows a victim of human trafficking who was convicted of solicitation or prostitution, but can prove that the conviction was the result of their status as a victim of human trafficking, to petition the court to set aside the conviction.
• AB 1610 by Assemblymember Rob Bonta (D-Alameda): Permits conditional examination of a material witness or victim when a defendant has been charged with human trafficking and there is evidence the witness has been dissuaded from testifying at trial.
• AB 1791 by Assemblymember Brian Maienschein (R-San Diego): Strengthens penalties for human trafficking crimes involving minors.
• SB 477 by Senator Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento): Requires foreign labor contractors to register with the Labor Commissioner and penalizes intimidation, discrimination and other violations to prevent the exploitation of foreign workers.
• SB 955 by Senator Holly J. Mitchell (D-Los Angeles): Adds human trafficking to the offenses for which interception of electronic communications may be ordered by a court.
• SB 1165 by Senator Holly J. Mitchell (D-Los Angeles): Permits sex trafficking prevention education in school districts and ensures it will be considered for inclusion in the Health Framework for California Public Schools.
• SB 1388 by Senator Ted W. Lieu (D-Torrance): Increases fines for the solicitation of an act of prostitution involving a minor.
For full text of the bills, visit: http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov