Bill Text: CA ACR6 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Introduced

California Assembly Concurrent Resolution 6 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Month.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-01-08 - From printer. [ACR6 Detail]

Download: California-2019-ACR6-Introduced.html

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Concurrent Resolution

No. 6

Introduced by Assembly Member Patterson

January 07, 2019

Relative to human trafficking.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

ACR 6, as introduced, Patterson. Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Month.

This measure would proclaim the month of January 2019 as Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Month, and would encourage certain activities to honor that month.

Fiscal Committee: NO

WHEREAS, Human trafficking is a form of modern day slavery. It is a crime that involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to recruit, harbor, transport, provide, or obtain a person for the purposes of labor or sexual exploitation; and

WHEREAS, According to the United States Department of State 2018 Trafficking in Persons Report, 170 countries have made public commitments to the eradication of human trafficking; and

WHEREAS, The International Labour Organization estimated there were 40.3 million victims of human trafficking globally in 2016, and 81 percent of victims were trapped in forced labor, 25 percent of them were children, and 75 percent were women and girls; and

WHEREAS, According to the United States Department of State 2018 Trafficking in Persons Report, the United States is a primary source, transit, and destination country for human trafficking both for citizens and foreign nationals; and

WHEREAS, The National Human Trafficking Hotline reported in 2018 that California is a primary location for human trafficking; and

WHEREAS, The Legislature recognizes the continuously growing crime of human trafficking within California due to its ever-increasing population, extensive international border, large immigrant population, and primary airports and harbors; and

WHEREAS, Nonprofit organizations are the primary source and often only source of help for victims of human trafficking, whether rescuing victims or offering aid so they may transition into a new life outside of trafficking; and

WHEREAS, Survivors of human trafficking desperately require housing, medical treatment, counseling, legal representation, and employment; and

WHEREAS, Nonprofit organizations need funding to provide such services, and one of the primary sources of their funding comes from grants administered by the Office of Emergency Services; and

WHEREAS, According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, human trafficking has increased by 842% in the United States since 2007, with California leading the way with the largest increase of reported cases; and

WHEREAS, With an estimated spending surplus of $14.8 billion for the 2019–2020 fiscal year, as projected by the Legislative Analyst’s Office, the California Legislature should make it a priority to appropriate adequate funds in order to provide services for victims of human trafficking; and

WHEREAS, Our nation was founded upon the principle of freedom, and we affirmed this principle with the ratification of the Thirteenth 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, forced marriage, forced labor, bonded labor, and slavery by descent; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature proclaims January 2019 as Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Month in California to encourage greater awareness of human trafficking within the State of California, the United States of America, and internationally; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature encourages the continuous work to eradicate the crime of human trafficking within California; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature encourages its members, as well as organizations, businesses, and individuals, to host or sponsor and attend community events to bring visibility and support to efforts made by nongovernmental organizations to recognize and combat 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.