Senator Rubio Introduces Bill Targeting Prevalence of Human Trafficking in California

Senator Susan Rubio (D-Baldwin Park) today introduced Senate Bill 376 that aims to develop a data-driven study of the current state of human trafficking in California, with the objective to identify early signs of trafficking and assess best methods for ongoing preventative efforts.

"This is a top priority for me, as I always strive to provide resources and support to victims, especially those who are exploited and often times neglected," said Senator Rubio. "California has one of the highest rates of human trafficking in the country, but now we must collect prevalent research in order to adopt a more comprehensive policy approach and prevent children and adults from being forced into modern day slavery."

"Strong prevalence research is critical for the state of California to become a global leader in its fight against human trafficking," said Kay Buck, CEO of the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization committed to ending modern day slavery and human trafficking. "I want to thank Senator Rubio for joining us in the fight to ensure we assess how best to support service providers and government agencies who deliver important prevention, identification, and response services across the state. This study will be survivor-centered and include range of avenues for people with lived experience to contribute, such as serving as consultants, serving as members of the research team, coauthoring reports, and presenting findings."

In 2014, the International Labor Organization reported human trafficking as the fastest growing criminal industry in the 21st century-one that generates an estimated $150 billion annually. States like California, Florida, and New York are especially susceptible to human trafficking due to various reasons that include distance to international borders, high immigrant populations, and large economies with industries that attract forced labor.

Organizations like the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking aim to help victims escape these heinous circumstances.