Bill > SB1022

This bill, titled the Human Trafficking: California Multidisciplinary Alliance to Stop Trafficking Act (California MAST), establishes a task force to address human trafficking in California. The task force will review how government and non-profit organizations work together to protect victims and survivors, assess the state's progress in preventing trafficking, assisting victims, and prosecuting traffickers, and recommend ways to improve these efforts. It will also explore the costs and best methods for conducting a statewide study on the prevalence of human trafficking, including its various forms like sex and labor trafficking, and the characteristics of those affected. The task force will be comprised of various state officials, including the Attorney General and directors from departments like Social Services and Health Care Services, along with representatives from legal associations, human rights and immigrant rights organizations, and crucially, survivors of trafficking and experts in the field. This multidisciplinary group will meet at least four times, with its first meeting by July 1, 2027, and will report its findings and recommendations annually to state agencies and the Legislature, starting January 1, 2029. The bill also defines "trafficking" according to federal law and allows for reimbursement of expenses for task force appointees.