TITLE
Recommendation to request City Manager, or his designee, to create a citywide Enforcement Plan for Senate Bill 1193, the California law that requires public posting of human trafficking information at specific businesses and establishments.
DISCUSSION
Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery in which traffickers use force, fraud, or coercion to control victims for the purpose of engaging in prostitution or labor services against his/her will. Despite growing awareness about this crime, human trafficking continues to go underreported due to its covert nature and misconceptions about its definition.
In order to strengthen the fight against human trafficking and assist victims, Governor Brown approved SB 1193 in September 2012. This law requires specified businesses and other establishments to post a notice that contains information related to slavery and human trafficking, including information on specified nonprofit organizations that provide seNices in support of the elimination of slavery and human trafficking. It also requires the establishments to post the notice in a conspicuous place near their entrance or in another location in clear view of the public and employees where similar notices are customarily posted.
Each of the following businesses and establishments are required to post the notice:
1. On-sale general public premises licensees under the ABC Act
2. Adult or sexually oriented businesses
3. Primary airports
4. Intercity passenger rail or light rail stations
5. Bus stations
6. Truck stops
7. Emergency rooms within general acute care hospitals
8. Urgent care centers
9. Farm labor contractors
10. Privately operated job recruitment centers
11. Roadside rest areas
12. Businesses or establishments that offer massage or bodywork services for compensation
The Long Beach City Prosecutor's Office has been working with the Long Beach Human Trafficking Task Force this past year on an Implementation Plan for SB 1193. This plan includes creating a poster with the necessary posting requirements in multiple languages, developing a letter for impacted businesses and establishments to explain the law, and training Task Force members and volunteers to distribute the posters.
While outreach about the law is important, ensuring that the sites comply is just as vital. An Enforcement Plan will support current efforts of the Human Trafficking Task Force and City Prosecutor's Office, and provide proper execution of the law.
FISCAL IMPACT
There should be minimal impact to the General Fund. Staff time will be spent developing the plan, but enforcement can be shared between departments. Furthermore, there is potential for fines to be collected for those businesses and establishments not in compliance ($500 for first offense and $(1,000 for each subsequent offense).
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
REX RICHARDSON
COUNCILMEMBER, NINTH DISTRICT
LENA GONZALEZ
COUNCILWOMAN, FIRST DISTRICT
SUJA LOWENTHAL
VICE MAYOR, SECOND DISTRICT
DEE ANDREWS
COUNCILMAN, SIXTH DISTRICT