Monterey County DA Jeannine Pacioni and Local Law Enforcement Agencies to Enforce Civil Code § 52.6’S Human Trafficking Notice Requirement

Salinas, California- Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced on Wednesday, January 26 that the District Attorney’s Office’s Human Trafficking Enforcement Program, in cooperation with local law enforcement agencies, will enforce Civil Code section 52.6’s human trafficking notice requirement. Human trafficking is modern-day slavery. It involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act. Human trafficking is an estimated $32 billion-a-year global industry, and, after drug trafficking, is the world’s second most profitable criminal enterprise. California, a populous state with a significant immigrant population, as well as the world’s ninth largest economy – is one of the nation’s top four destination states for trafficking human beings. Human trafficking is often “hidden in plain sight.” Victims of human trafficking often don’t know where to turn for assistance and can be too intimidated to ask for help. With this mind, in 2013 the California Legislature Enacted Senate Bill 1193. The law mandates that specified businesses and other establishments post a notice informing the public and victims of human trafficking of a national telephone hotline to assist in reporting unlawful activity. A compliant poster in both English and Spanish is required to be visible in a conspicuous place near the public entrance of the establishment or in another conspicuous location in clear view of the public and employees where similar notices are customarily posted. Civil Code section 52.6 requires that the following businesses and establishments post the notice: 1. On-sale general public premises licensees under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act (Division 9 (commencing with Section 23000) of the Business and Professions Code). 2. Adult or sexually oriented businesses, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 318.5 of the Penal Code. 3. Primary airports, as defined in Section 47102(16) of Title 49 of the United States Code. 4. Intercity passenger rail or light rail stations. 5. Bus stations. 6. Truck stops. For purposes of this section, "truck stop" means a privately owned and operated facility that provides food, fuel, shower or other sanitary facilities, and lawful overnight truck parking. 7. Emergency rooms within general acute care hospitals. 8. Urgent care centers. 9. Farm labor contractors, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 1682 of the Labor Code. 10. Privately operated job recruitment centers. 11. Roadside rest areas. 12. Businesses or establishments that offer massage or bodywork services for compensation and are not described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 4612 of the Business and Professions Code. 13. Hotels, motels, and bed and breakfast inns, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 24045.12 of the Business and Professions Code, not including personal residences. Beginning January 26, 2022, local law enforcement agencies will visit businesses and establishments required to post the notice. Noncompliant businesses and establishments will be given 30 days from the date of the notice to correct the violation. Businesses or establishments who still fail to comply may be liable for a civil penalty of $500 for a first offense and $1,000 for each subsequent offense.