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.
Item five. Communication from Councilmember Richardson, Councilman Councilwoman Gonzalez, Vice Mayor Lowenthal, and Councilman Andrew's recommendation to request City Manager to create a citywide enforcement plan for Senate Bill 1193, a California law that requires public posting of human trafficking information at specific businesses and establishment. Councilmember Richardson, thank you. Over the past few months, I've been and my staff has been following the efforts of the Long Beach Human Trafficking Task Force. Specifically with relation to the Senate Bill 1193. This agenda item tonight is to support those efforts on enforcing this law and to further the city's commitment to combating human trafficking. SB 1193 requires specific businesses and other establishments to post a notice that concerns contains information related to slavery and human trafficking, including information hotlines for specified nonprofit organizations that provide services and aid that aid in the rescue of those victims. The hotlines are toll free and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There are also anonymous, confidential and accessible in numerous languages. The 12 types of businesses and establishments that are required to post those are most likely to be used by trafficked individuals. Currently, an enforcement plan has been developed by the Human Relations, the Human Trafficking Task Force, in partnership with our city prosecutor's office. I'm asking that. It's asking that the city create an enforcement plan to assist in those efforts and ensure that all proper sites comply with comply with this poster law. So at this point, I'd just like to ask for an update on where we are with the implementation of this enforcement plan. Alternate over to Commander Lisa Lopez. Vice Mayor Lowenthal. And council members Councilmember Richardson. City staff from various. Departments. Will be working together to create. This citywide enforcement plan for Senate Bill 1193. The plan will include education about the requirements of the Senate bill to both existing and new businesses. That meet the criteria. That's established. Great. So at this point, I'd like to just so I've made the motion, but I'd like to go ahead and just inquire with the city attorney about those specific types of businesses. Could you just state what those businesses are that are listed in this law? Vice Mayor Members of the Council. Yes, the there's actually 12 in the civil code section 52.6. I do point out that they are for on sale general purpose premises consumption maybe under under the ABC act. Adult or sexually orientated businesses. Primary airports. Inner City Passenger rail or light rail stations. Bus stations. Truck stops. Emergency rooms within urgent care centers. Farm labor contracts. Privately operated job recruitment centers. Roadside rest areas. Business or establishments that offer massage or body work services. Those are the 12 currently listed under Civil Code 52.6. So are there any. So can you just update me on what other states or other agencies have done in terms of including motels as well. As other other states or other jurisdictions have looked at the options of requiring the notice that either hotels are motels, if there has been a conviction at the location for certain enumerated crimes, including solicitation or prostitution. Okay. So with my motion, I also want you to I'd like for you to come back with some options on whether it's legal or appropriate to explore, maybe going a little a step further with this bill. I mean, with this. Yeah. With enforcement of this bill. By including motels, is that something you can do? We could certainly research that and get back to you. Councilmember Great. Thank you so much. Councilmember Gonzalez. I want to thank Councilmember Richardson for bringing this forward. I think this is very important, especially since PD has been working so very hard on this already. My question goes to the various languages. I think I meant I read something that had mentioned a couple of them, but I don't know what is covered currently or what we would legally be required to do. Anyone know? 17 Vice Mayor members of the council. Yes. The under the current section of the Civil Code, these enumerated businesses, which I read would be required to post in the code section itself. It talks about the size of the notice and what the content of the notice should say. It's also available on the Attorney General's website and working with the police department and the other departments. There will be a concerted effort to make sure that these businesses that are located in Long Beach will have the necessary language posted in their facilities. The the language provides for civil penalties. So I work with the prosecutor's office on this, but I anticipate our office would be through our code enforcement individuals. We would be if there is a problem where they're not posting it, we would be contacting them, advising them of the penalties associated with not posting and making sure that we gain compliance. Which languages would be required to? I don't know. Oh. I'm sorry. Yes. Under the Civil Code section, the notice to be posted is printed in English, Spanish and one other language that is most widely spoken language in the in the county where the establishment is located. Oh, it's in the county. Not specific to the city, though. So that's correct under the civil code. Because I would think that in some areas, I mean, especially along Cambodia town, I mean, it'd be nice to have something in, but I don't know if there's something we could. Currently we were limited to the statute. The an option might be is is or you could refer potential amendments to this bill to the state led committee and they could certainly talk about it on a statewide level if you wanted it made changes there. We're going to be looking at options for the city, for Councilmember Richardson's memo. We could look at this. Also. Can we friendly amend an amendment that as well? Absolutely. Okay, great. Councilmember Andrews. Yes. And thank you, vice mayor. You know, I'm happy to see that this enforcement piece has been, you know, included in this agenda. You know, this is definitely a great idea because it's about protecting our community. And I would like to think the human trafficking, you know, task force and community and Councilman Rex Richardson taking leadership on this and bringing it forward. I appreciate this very much. Thank you. Councilmember your Yarrawonga. Thank you, bass player. I have a couple of questions in regards to I know it's probably described somewhere in terms of SB 1193 in regards to what is the definition of human trafficking, because I'm sure that there are many instances and broader definitions of just sexual oriented abuses of people who I'm sure that there's others as well . Is there a definition in here somewhere that I can refer to in terms of what is a definition of human trafficking and slavery? That I can look at. Is it in the bill itself or vice mayor or members of the council? It is not included in the bill itself. Because I would I would define slavery. Ed, for example, as what takes place more commonly is sweatshop. For example, people who are working in the sweatshop, working under adverse working conditions, not being let out to go take breaks and that type of stuff. So is that included in this? Would it be would it be incorrect for me to to include that in there? The current thing is. Definition I'm sorry. Thing. If you or someone you know is being forced to engage in any activity and cannot leave, whether it is commercial sex, housework, farm work, construction, factory retail or restaurant work or any other activity, call the national human trafficking resource. So while they don't specifically define it, they they do indicate in a very broad sense, the areas in which if an individual feels that they're impacted by any of those areas, they give the 24 hour hotline numbers on the notice and then it describes the hotline and it's toll free, anonymous, etc.. Okay. So when we're talking also about potential penalties, we're looking at any establishment that refuses to post these notices. That is correct. The first offense pursuant to the Civil Code section is $500 in subsequent offense or $1,000. And how would that enforcement take place? Would that be through our police officers or inspectors or various other types of agencies that would be entering these establishments? Yes, the the if the establishment is is failing to comply, obviously, our goal is to get full compliance. And if they're not in compliance, we would probably be referred to us and we would reach out to them to contact them and and indicate to them what their penalty assessments are. If they did not do so, then we would go forward with a civil assessment and try and get an award for the either thousand or 500 and then subsequent thousand dollar assessment penalties. Well, that definitely is pretty broad. And I'm just wondering how many establishments are we are we talking about I mean, you're looking at liquor stores, you're looking at markets, you're looking at mom and pop shops. You know, it could be pretty expensive. How is that cost going to be covered in regards to the printing and the distribution of these notices? Is there a plan? That's that would be the responsibility of the business owner. Our responsibility is to ensure that they do it and comply. Okay. Clarification, the business owner posted. How are we going to how are we going to get that to them? Are they going to come to city hall and pick up a bunch of posters or what? We would talk in our committee, as Commander Lopez talked about, but more than likely would provide samples of posters or documents that are recommended by the state. And then it would be the responsibility of the business to have those photocopied or created and posted. Also, there was a discussion about language. We're talking about the county. We know that sometimes that sometimes we know we have a problem that's in human trafficking and it's an international problem covering many cultures, many languages. And it seems that we're going to be limited to a very few languages around here and that even Carmine was listed . In Tagalog, it would be in the West Long Beach area is an example of how we how are we going to address that issue in terms of the target that we want to address in regards to people being aware that human trafficking is. Natalie Allen. Councilmember Barunga. One thing that we can do besides an educational campaign for the whole community is we can post these requirements on the city website also so that the community can be aware of it. We can also. Seek. Voluntary compliance. With businesses in different parts of town where the language may be different than that. Third most common language in the county. In the county. I think that's it for a nice clarification. Councilman Austin. Thank you. And I want to thank my and my colleagues for bringing this item forward. This is certainly an issue that that has plagued our society. And Long Beach is no exception. Some of our business corridors and what goes on behind closed doors is actually appalling. And so I commend that human trafficking task force and my colleagues for for bringing this forward. I think this is a no brainer, something that we do have to support here this evening. And so I'll certainly be voting in support of this. But I did have a couple of just clear point questions. Regarding the point is that established in the legislation. And is that specifically does it come to the local government or does it go to the state. Vice mayor or members of the council? That that's an excellent question. The the fine is established in the civil code. I don't have an answer for you tonight on where the money goes, whether the city or jurisdiction gets to keep that or it goes into the court system and we get a small percentage of that fine. But I believe it would it would be the latter. Okay. And then when you in the item, it makes references to the following businesses and establishments that are required to post the notice. Number two, who refers to adult or sexually oriented businesses? Is there a definition for that or is that just a broad kind of stroke? There is a definition in that adult or sexually orientated businesses as defined in Subdivision A of Section 318.5 of the Penal Code. I don't have that in front of me to read it to you, but I can provide it to you. I'll be happy to to research that on my own. Like I said, I don't think there's anything here that prohibit my support for this this item. But I wanted some clarification. And Councilmember Richardson mentioned motels. Obviously, that's not included in the type of businesses. We do know that there are. And I don't want to. I don't want to generalize any type of business, but massage parlors where I know there has been calls for service and issues with human trafficking activity, is would that be considered under this number two definition or is this something that we would have to look at. Including possibly vice members of the council? I believe that would be included under number 12 business or establishments that offer massage or body work services for compensation. Oh, good catch. I have no further questions. Councilmember Turanga. Yeah. Yeah. Well, I had one more thing I forgot to mention is that now that the work of the task force and I thank them for their work has been completed. Is there a monitoring mechanism that we're going to establish here, maybe through the Human Relations Commission, in regards to how how we're doing with this with this effort? I'm at this stage, we don't know exactly how we'll monitor, but that's something that Commander Lopez and the department teams will work on probably through business licenses. And we certainly could report back on a regular basis to the city council and perhaps a suggestion to Councilmember Austin's inquiry about the penalties and where it goes. I would suggest maybe establishing some kind of child fund or a victims fund to help individuals get back on track. Thank you. There's been a motion and a second. I'd also like to just add that my own gratitude to Councilmember Richardson for his interest in this subject. I know we have members in the audience that are very supportive of this. It's extremely important to encourage the public awareness. And we have folks that have been doing that. And for us to join as a city to help with that I think is critical. Hopefully we will inspire victims and would be victims to seek help. There's clearly a common misconception that these are somehow victimless crimes. We hear that time and time again, and those in the community, the advocacy community, have highlighted for us how that, in fact, is just a fallacy and a false narrative. My thanks to our city prosecutor Doug Halbert and our human trafficking task force for your focus on this and related crimes that upend families and demoralize communities. And I think we can only improve our efforts as we work together. With that, is there any member of the order of the audience that would like to address this council on item five? Please come forward. State your name. Hello. Virginia's aunt with a human trafficking task force. I'd like to thank Richardson for bringing this forward to the council tonight. We're happy to have your support behind us. Thank you. And I just. Just a few comments. One is that, sir, before this law was passed, survivors were asked what would help those victims who are currently in the life. And over and over again, they said if they had more information. So having this phone number out in public places for victims to see and have access to is very important and helping them get out of the life. So I thank you for your help and support on this. Also, I just wanted to make one comment too about the posters and the language. We do actually have a poster that's made with it's one poster and it has the language in English, Spanish and Kami on it. So we do have that in the language came from this, the secretary of state of California. And so thank you all for your support. Thank you. Anyone else. Please come forward and state your name. Yes. The city prosecutors should be commended. This is a very serious subject, equally serious. And I'm wondering whether or not there's a way of developing it since you're dealing with the massage dynamics. Whether or not we can establish of a program to go after those that are involved, particularly those in this building, of massaging the numbers, if you will, and the finances to channel them illegally, such as was codified in this hymnal of hosannas. Using taxpayer money moneys from. Mr. to you you're off topic. So the city cannot develop a program. I'm saying we're on item five, which does not deal with the issue you are discussing unless you wish to speak on human trafficking in our efforts to work with the community. I don't wish to hear it. You're not dealing with are we dealing with the massage parlors? We are not. You're not. We are. Not. I'm sorry. I thought. Thank you. When will you be due? We're not tonight. Thank you. Thank you. Any further public comment? Seeing nonmembers cast your vote. Councilman Austin. Motion carries seven zero. Item six recommendation to receive and file report from the Long Beach City Prosecutor's Office on the Johns Exposed program.