Crimes: prostitution.

Assemblymember Schultz's legislation expands California's anti-trafficking framework through increased penalties, enhanced prosecution resources, and new victim support mechanisms. The bill modifies civil and criminal code provisions addressing commercial sexual exploitation while establishing dedicated funding streams for survivor services.

The measure increases civil penalties for businesses that fail to post required human trafficking notices, raising fines to $1,000 for first violations and $2,000 for subsequent infractions. Hotels face steeper penalties for trafficking-related violations, with fines ranging from $3,000 to $15,000 based on frequency of occurrence. These collected fines flow into a newly created Survivors Support Fund.

Under the criminal code amendments, defendants who solicit minors more than three years their junior must complete human trafficking awareness education if granted probation. The bill creates a new misdemeanor offense for loitering with intent to purchase commercial sex. Both this offense and existing prostitution violations carry additional $1,000 fines directed to survivor services.

The California Victim Compensation Board will administer grants from the Survivors Support Fund to community organizations providing direct services to trafficking victims. Priority goes to survivor-led groups operating in high-impact areas. Additionally, the Office of Emergency Services will fund up to 11 district attorney offices using vertical prosecution methods for trafficking cases, requiring dedicated staff and partnerships with victim service providers.

The legislation mandates a comprehensive report to the Legislature by 2028 detailing prosecution outcomes in funded jurisdictions, including case filings, conviction rates, and sentencing data. This vertical prosecution program allows up to 10 percent of funds for administrative costs, including technical assistance and required reporting.