AB-1375
Civil Rights & Liberties

Consideration when determining child custody: human trafficking.

Introduced
CA
2025-2026 Regular Session
0
0
Track

Key Takeaways

  • Establishes new child custody protections when parents or children are victims of human trafficking, effective July 2027.
  • Creates a legal presumption against awarding custody to parents convicted of or involved in human trafficking.
  • Requires annual training for judges on handling human trafficking cases in family court.
  • Mandates courts to include specific protections in custody orders when trafficking victims are involved.

Summary

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.

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
Next Step
Assembly Committee
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Assembly Appropriations Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Appropriations Hearing
Assembly Appropriations Hearing
Assembly Judiciary Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Judiciary Hearing
Assembly Judiciary Hearing
Introduced. To print.
Assembly Floor
Introduced. To print.
Introduced. To print.

Contacts

Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Mike FongD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Diane DixonR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 17 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 4
Select All Legislators
Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Mike FongD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Diane DixonR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Gregg HartD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Josh HooverR
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Blanca PachecoD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Gail PellerinD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Kate SanchezR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Tri TaR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Jessica CalozaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Mark GonzalezD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Heather HadwickR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Maggy KrellD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Jose SolacheD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Sade ElhawaryD
Assemblymember
Committee Member

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

Josh Hoover
Josh HooverR
California State Assembly Member
Co-Author
Maggy Krell
Maggy KrellD
California State Assembly Member
10% progression
Bill has been formally introduced and read for the first time in its house of origin (2/21/2025)

Latest Voting History

May 23, 2025
PASS
Assembly Committee
Assembly Appropriations Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
110415PASS

Key Takeaways

  • Establishes new child custody protections when parents or children are victims of human trafficking, effective July 2027.
  • Creates a legal presumption against awarding custody to parents convicted of or involved in human trafficking.
  • Requires annual training for judges on handling human trafficking cases in family court.
  • Mandates courts to include specific protections in custody orders when trafficking victims are involved.

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

Josh Hoover
Josh HooverR
California State Assembly Member
Co-Author
Maggy Krell
Maggy KrellD
California State Assembly Member

Summary

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.

10% progression
Bill has been formally introduced and read for the first time in its house of origin (2/21/2025)

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
Next Step
Assembly Committee
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Assembly Appropriations Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Appropriations Hearing
Assembly Appropriations Hearing
Assembly Judiciary Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Judiciary Hearing
Assembly Judiciary Hearing
Introduced. To print.
Assembly Floor
Introduced. To print.
Introduced. To print.

Latest Voting History

May 23, 2025
PASS
Assembly Committee
Assembly Appropriations Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
110415PASS

Contacts

Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Mike FongD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Diane DixonR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 17 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 4
Select All Legislators
Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Mike FongD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Diane DixonR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Gregg HartD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Josh HooverR
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Blanca PachecoD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Gail PellerinD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Kate SanchezR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Tri TaR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Jessica CalozaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Mark GonzalezD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Heather HadwickR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Maggy KrellD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Jose SolacheD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Sade ElhawaryD
Assemblymember
Committee Member