AB2545:v99#DOCUMENTBill Start
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 2545
Introduced by Assembly Member Wallis
|
February 13, 2024 |
An act to amend Section 236.4 of the Penal Code, relating to human trafficking.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2545, as introduced, Wallis.
Human trafficking: penalties.
Existing law, as amended by the Californians Against Sexual Exploitation (CASE) Act, an initiative measure enacted by the approval of Proposition 35 at the November 6, 2012, statewide general election, proscribes the crime of human trafficking, a felony. Existing law specifies the penalties to be imposed upon a conviction for human trafficking and authorizes the court, in addition to any other penalty, fine, or restitution imposed, to impose a fine of up to $1,000,000. Existing law authorizes the Legislature to amend the CASE Act by a majority vote if the statute furthers its objectives.
This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to that provision.
Digest Key
Vote:
MAJORITY
Appropriation:
NO
Fiscal Committee:
NO
Local Program:
NO
Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 236.4 of the Penal Code is amended to read:236.4.
(a) Upon the conviction of a person of a person’s conviction for a violation of Section 236.1, the court may, in addition to any other penalty, fine, or restitution imposed, order the defendant to pay an additional fine not to exceed one million dollars ($1,000,000). In setting the amount of the fine, the court shall consider any relevant factors, including, but not limited to, the seriousness and gravity of the offense, the circumstances and duration of its commission, the amount of economic gain the defendant derived as a result of the crime, and the extent to which the victim suffered losses as a result of the crime.(b) Any A person who inflicts great bodily injury on a victim in the commission or attempted commission of a violation of Section 236.1 shall be punished by an additional and consecutive term of imprisonment in the state prison for 5, 7, or 10 years.
(c) Any A person who has previously been convicted of a violation of any a
crime specified in Section 236.1 shall receive an additional and consecutive term of imprisonment in the state prison for 5 years for each additional conviction on charges separately brought and tried.
(d) Every fine A fine imposed and collected pursuant to Section 236.1 and this section shall be deposited in the Victim-Witness Assistance Fund, to be administered by the California Emergency Management Agency (Cal EMA), Office of Emergency Services, to fund grants for services for victims of human trafficking. Seventy percent of the fines collected and
deposited shall be granted to public agencies and nonprofit corporations that provide shelter, counseling, or other direct services for trafficked victims. Thirty percent of the fines collected and deposited shall be granted to law enforcement and prosecution agencies in the jurisdiction in which the charges were filed to fund human trafficking prevention, witness protection, and rescue operations.