Bill Text: CA ACR6 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: Human trafficking.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 47-24)
Status: (Passed) 2013-02-21 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Res. Chapter 5, Statutes of 2013. [ACR6 Detail]
Download: California-2013-ACR6-Chaptered.html
BILL NUMBER: ACR 6 CHAPTERED BILL TEXT RESOLUTION CHAPTER 5 FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE FEBRUARY 21, 2013 ADOPTED IN SENATE FEBRUARY 15, 2013 ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 4, 2013 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 4, 2013 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Donnelly (Coauthors: Assembly Members Achadjian, Conway, Beth Gaines, Grove, Hagman, Mansoor, Olsen, Wilk, Allen, Ammiano, Atkins, Bigelow, Bloom, Blumenfield, Bocanegra, Bonilla, Bonta, Brown, Ian Calderon, Campos, Chau, Chávez, Chesbro, Cooley, Dahle, Daly, Dickinson, Eggman, Fong, Fox, Frazier, Garcia, Gatto, Gordon, Gorell, Gray, Harkey, Holden, Hueso, Jones, Levine, Linder, Logue, Maienschein, Medina, Melendez, Morrell, Mullin, Muratsuchi, Nazarian, Nestande, Pan, Patterson, Perea, John A. Pérez, V. Manuel Pérez, Quirk, Quirk-Silva, Rendon, Salas, Stone, Ting, Torres, Wagner, Waldron, Weber, Wieckowski, and Williams) (Coauthors: Senators Nielsen and Padilla) JANUARY 16, 2013 Relative to human trafficking. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST ACR 6, Donnelly. Human trafficking. This resolution would recognize the month of January 2013, and each following January, as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, and it would recognize February 1, 2013, and each following February 1, as California's Free From Slavery Day. WHEREAS, President Barack Obama declared January 2011 to be National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, culminating in National Freedom Day on February 1, 2011; and WHEREAS, President Barack Obama called "upon the People of the United States to recognize the vital role we can play in ending modern slavery" and that fighting this scourge is a shared responsibility; and WHEREAS, Our nation was founded upon the principle of freedom, and we affirmed this principle with ratification of the 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution that guaranteed people within our borders protection from slavery; and WHEREAS, Americans are committed to individual freedom and will do all they can to help eliminate modern day slavery, which includes human trafficking, early and forced marriage, forced labor, bonded labor, and slavery by descent; and WHEREAS, Beyond all differences of race, creed, or political persuasion, Americans are one people who must face national threats together, and while they now live with a heightened awareness of human trafficking and other forms of modern day slavery, they refuse to allow them to continue; and WHEREAS, Human trafficking can occur in many forms. Sexual slavery, involuntary domestic servitude, and child soldiering are just a few of the abuses that men, women, and children are subjected to; and WHEREAS, The United States Department of State's "Trafficking in Persons Report 2010" includes the United States in its rankings for the first time in the report's 10-year history showing the United States as a growing magnet for traffickers to conduct their illegal and inhumane business; and WHEREAS, The Central Intelligence Agency estimated that approximately 15,000 to 17,000 men, women, and children are trafficked into the United States every year, making the United States one of the top three trafficking destinations along with Japan and Australia; and WHEREAS, California is a prime destination for human trafficking, along with other states including New York, Texas, and Nevada; and WHEREAS, California's unique geography makes it a particularly vulnerable location for human trafficking because of its extensive international border, numerous ports and airports, and overall large economy; and WHEREAS, Apart from the harm that this crime causes its victims, secondary consequences of human trafficking can severely affect California communities. The link between human trafficking and other criminal activities, including, but not limited to, human smuggling, drug trafficking, money laundering, and organized crime, increases the potential for other violent crime. The United States Department of State reports that the impact of human trafficking on surrounding communities includes increased crime and gang activity, child exploitation, public health problems, and depressed wages; and WHEREAS, The Legislature recognizes the vital role California can play in preventing and one day ending modern slavery; now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature recognizes January 2013, and each following January, as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month; and be it further Resolved, That the Legislature recognizes February 1, 2013, and each following February 1, as California's Free From Slavery Day, and calls upon all Californians to follow President Obama's charge to "educate themselves about all forms of modern slavery and the signs and consequences of human trafficking"; and be it further Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.