TITLE
Recommendation to request that the City of Long Beach become a co-sponsor of Assembly Bill 1771 (O'Donnell) to increase the penalties for human trafficking, and direct City Manager to work in support of its passage into law.
DISCUSSION
Assemblymember Patrick O'Donnell has authored Assembly Bill 1171, which will help further combat human trafficking operations and help protect the victims of this underground sexual abuse.
Specifically, AB 1771 would increase the maximum penalty for the misdemeanor crime of supervising sex trafficking victims from 6 months to a year.
While human traffickers are subject to felony prosecution, this charge is only applied on relatively few occasions because sex trafficking victims often do not cooperate with law enforcement. This is especially true in cases where the trafficker is an active gang member and the victim fears retaliation from the gang. In cases where victims do not provide statements against the trafficker, only the misdemeanor charge can be filed. AB 1771 would close a loophole that currently allows serious criminals to avoid accountability for their crimes.
AB 1771 is currently co-sponsored by Long Beach City Prosecutor Doug Haubert and the Long Beach Human Trafficking Task Force.
The City of Long Beach is currently on record in support of AB 1771. By becoming a cosponsor of the bill, the City would be able to more actively work in support of the legislation and help garner the support of other cities in California.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no significant fiscal impact.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
AL AUSTIN
COUNCILMAN, EIGHTH DISTRICT
LENA GONZALEZ
COUNCILWOMAN, FIRST DISTRICT
DEE ANDREWS
COUNCILMAN, SIXTH DISTRICT