Consideration when determining child custody: human trafficking.

Assembly Members Hoover and Krell propose new requirements for California courts to consider human trafficking when determining child custody arrangements, establishing a framework that parallels existing domestic violence provisions in custody proceedings. The legislation authorizes courts to investigate whether children or parents are victims of human trafficking and whether parents have been convicted of or facilitated human trafficking, with these findings informing custody decisions starting July 1, 2027.

Under the proposed changes, courts must specify protective measures in custody orders when children or parents are identified as trafficking victims. The bill creates a rebuttable presumption against awarding custody to parents convicted of trafficking or who caused trafficking of the child or other parent - a presumption that can only be overcome with a preponderance of evidence showing custody would serve the child's best interests.

The Judicial Council must develop specialized training programs by January 2027 addressing best practices for handling cases involving human trafficking victims. This training, which can be delivered in person or remotely, becomes mandatory for new judges during orientation and for judicial officers assigned to family or juvenile courts. The programs will draw from research on trafficking's impacts on victims and must be offered annually to ensure ongoing judicial education on this issue.