Amended in Senate August 16, 2016

Amended in Assembly April 19, 2016

Amended in Assembly April 6, 2016

Amended in Assembly March 17, 2016

California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 2221

Introduced by Assembly Members Cristina Garcia and Grove

February 18, 2016

An act to add Section 236.13 to the Penal Code, relating to crimes.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 2221, as amended, Cristina Garcia. Criminal procedure: human trafficking witnesses.

begin delete

(1) Under

end delete

begin insert Under end insert existing law, a person who deprives or violates another person’s personal liberty with the intent to obtain forced labor or services or who deprives or violates another person’s personal liberty for the purpose of prostitution or sexual exploitation is guilty of human trafficking, a felony.

This bill would require that a minor who is a victim of human trafficking be provided with assistance from the local county Victim Witness Assistance Center prior to testifying as a witness in the case if the minor so desires that assistance.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.  

Section 236.13 is added to the Penal Code, to
read:

236.13.  

begin insert (a) end insert begin insert   end insert Prior to testifying as a witness in a case involving
a charge of human trafficking under Section 236.1, a minor who
is a victim of the human trafficking shall be provided with
assistance from the local county Victim Witness Assistance Center
if the minor so desires.

begin insert

(b) This section does not require a local agency to operate a
Victim Witness Assistance Center.

end insert