Postsecondary education: training for drivers of commercial trucks: human trafficking awareness training.
If enacted, AB2009 would require all community college programs that prepare students for licensing and employment as commercial truck drivers to incorporate human trafficking awareness training into their curricula starting January 1, 2022. This change is expected to enhance the overall educational framework and awareness of human trafficking issues amid an industry where drivers may encounter potential victims.
Assembly Bill 2009 aims to enhance human trafficking awareness training within the curriculum for students studying to become commercial truck drivers in California. This bill mandates that by July 1, 2021, the Chancellor’s Office of the California Community Colleges will collaborate with experienced training providers to develop and disseminate instructional materials that focus on recognizing, preventing, and reporting human trafficking. This initiative is designed to better equip future professional drivers with the knowledge to act against such crimes, addressing a significant societal issue.
The bill is part of broader efforts to combat human trafficking, particularly in industries where victims may be more visible or vulnerable. Critics may raise concerns regarding the feasibility of implementing these new curricula within existing educational frameworks, along with the funding implications that arise from adding mandatory training. Additionally, as the bill stipulates that local agencies and school districts may be reimbursed for costs mandated by the state, discussions around financial sustainability and local government's budget allocations are likely to arise.