Code Section

18945.  

(a) Noncitizen victims of trafficking, domestic violence, and other serious crimes, as defined in subdivision (b), shall be eligible for public social services under this division, and health care services under Part 6.2 (commencing with Section 12693) of Division 2 of the Insurance Code, to the same extent as individuals who are admitted to the United States as refugees under Section 1157 of Title 8 of the United States Code. These services shall discontinue if there is a final administrative denial of a visa application under Section 1101 (a)(15)(T)(i) or (ii), or Section 1101 (a)(15)(U)(i) or (ii), of Title 8 of the United States Code. For trafficking victims on behalf of whom law enforcement officials have not yet filed for continued presence or who have not yet filed an application for a visa, benefits issued pursuant to this subdivision shall be available for up to one year, and shall continue after that date only if an application for continued presence, or an application for a visa, is filed within the one-year period. Benefits and services under this subdivision shall be paid from state funds to the extent federal funding is unavailable.

(b) For purposes of this section, victims of trafficking, domestic violence, and other serious crimes shall be defined to include both of the following:

(1) Noncitizen victims of a severe form of trafficking in persons, who have been subjected to an act or practice described in Section 7102 (8) or (9) of Title 22 of the United States Code or Section 236.1 of the Penal Code, and who have filed an I-914 application for T Nonimmigrant status with the appropriate federal agency, are preparing to file an application for status under Section 1101 (a)(15)(T)(i) or (ii) of Title 8 of the United States Code, or otherwise are taking steps to meet the conditions for federal benefits eligibility under Section 7105 of Title 22 of the United States Code.

(2) Individuals who have filed a formal application with the appropriate federal agency for status under Section 1101 (a)(15)(U)(i) or (ii) of Title 8 of the United States Code.

(c) After one year from the date of application for public social services, noncitizen victims of a severe form of trafficking, as defined in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b), shall be ineligible for state-funded services if a visa application has not been filed until under Section 1101 (a)(15)(T)(i) or (ii) of Title 8 of the United States Code.

(d) A noncitizen victim of a severe form of trafficking, as defined in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b), who is issued a visa shall be removed from the state-funded program and provided federally funded public social services benefits under the provisions of Section 1522 of Title 8 of the United States Code, or another federal program for which the noncitizen victim may be eligible.

(e) For purposes of this section, Section 13283 and Section 14005.2:

(1) In determining whether an applicant for public social services has been a victim of a severe form of human trafficking, as defined in Section 7102 (8) or (9) of Title 22 of the United States Code, or Section 236.1 of the Penal Code, the state or local agency shall consider all relevant and credible evidence. A sworn statement by a victim, or a representative if the victim is not able to competently swear, shall be sufficient if at least one item of additional evidence is also provided, including, but not limited to, any of the following:

(A) Police, government agency, or court records or files.

(B) News articles.

(C) Documentation from a social services, trafficking, or domestic violence program, or a legal, clinical, medical, or other professional from whom the applicant or recipient has sought assistance in dealing with the crime.

(D) A statement from any other individual with knowledge of the circumstances that provided the basis for the claim.

(E) Physical evidence.

(F) A copy of a completed visa application.

(G) Written notice from the federal agency of receipt of the visa application.

(2) If the victim cannot provide additional evidence, then the sworn statement shall be sufficient if the county or state agency makes a determination documented in the case file that the applicant is credible.