Assembly Bill No. 2221

CHAPTER 641

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

[Approved by Governor September 26, 2016. Filed with Secretary of State September 26, 2016.]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

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

Under 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, in a case involving a charge of human trafficking, that a minor who is a victim of the human trafficking be provided with assistance from the local county Victim Witness Assistance Center if the minor so desires that assistance.

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.  

(a) 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.

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



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