California Assembly Bill AB1731 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: AB 1731AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 27, 2016 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Atkins JANUARY 28, 2016 An act to add Section 236.13 to the Penal Code, relating to human trafficking. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 1731, as amended, Atkins. Human trafficking: Statewide Interagency Human Trafficking Task Force. Under existing law, anyone who deprives or violates the personal liberty of another with the intent to obtain forced labor or services, or with the intent to effect a violation of specified sex crimes is guilty of human trafficking. Under existing law, any person who causes a minor to engage in a commercial sex act, with the intent to violate specified sex crimes, is guilty of human trafficking. This bill would create the Statewide Interagency Human Trafficking Task  Force, as provided, and   Force within the Department of Justice, which would consist of representatives from several state agencies and be chaired by a representative from the Department of Justice. The bill  would require the task force to gather statewide data on sex and labor traffickers, sex buyers, and human trafficking victims, to recommend interagency protocols and best practices for training and outreach to law enforcement, victim service providers, and other state and private sector employees likely to encounter sex trafficking, and to evaluate and implement approaches to increase public awareness about human trafficking.  The bill would prohibit the task force from duplicating the protocols developed by the California Child Welfare Council.  Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 236.13 is added to the Penal Code, to read: 236.13. (a) The Statewide Interagency Human Trafficking Task Force is hereby  created,   created within the Department of Justice,  consisting of representatives from all of the following agencies: (1)  The   A representative of the  Department of  Justice.   Justice shall be the chair of the task force.  (2) The State Department of Social Services. (3) The Children and Family Services Division of the State Department of Social Services. (4) The Labor and Workforce Development Agency. (5) The State Department of Public Health. (6) The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. (7) The State Department of Education. (8) The Judicial Council.  (9) The California Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board.  (b) The task force shall do all of the following: (1) Gather statewide data on sex and labor traffickers, sex buyers, and human trafficking victims, including statistics on prosecution of offenders as well as services provided to victims, including commercially sexually exploited children. (2) Recommend interagency protocols and best practices for training and outreach to the law enforcement community, victim service providers, and other state or private sector employees likely to encounter  sex  trafficking, such as educators and hotel workers. (3) Evaluate and implement approaches to increase public awareness about human trafficking and make new recommendations on these approaches.  (c) The protocols described in subdivision (b) shall not duplicate the protocols developed by the California Child Welfare Council, established by Section 16540 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, to implement the provisions of Section 16524 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.