California Assembly adopts ACR 9, designating January as Human Trafficking Awareness Month

Assemblymember Pellerin presented Assembly Concurrent Resolution 9 to designate January as National Human Trafficking Awareness Month and asked colleagues to support a survivor-centered approach to addressing trafficking in California. "Human trafficking is a crime that involves the use of coercion to recruit and harbor a person for their forced labor or commercial exploitation," Pellerin said, noting the resolution was drafted "in close partnership with human trafficking survivors from across the state."

The resolution was adopted by voice vote after the clerk recorded 69 co-authors on the measure. "All those in favor, say aye... The ayes have it. The resolution is adopted," the clerk declared. ACR 9 expresses the Assembly’s commitment to awareness, survivor recovery and empowerment, prosecution of offenders, and partnership with survivor-led advocacy organizations.

Members across the aisle described trafficking as a statewide problem and urged policies that go beyond symbolic recognition. "This heinous crime can come in many forms," Assemblymember Jeff Gonzalez said, adding that trafficking occurs in his district along the border. Assemblymember Rubio, a coauthor, cited an estimate of 27,600,000 adults and children in the United States who have been victims of labor or commercial sexual exploitation and said "Victims of human trafficking can be any gender, race, religion, and socioeconomic status."

Several lawmakers and survivor advocates noted California’s legislative history on trafficking. Assemblymember Krell described the 1995 El Monte discovery and referenced state and federal legal tools that followed, saying survivor leaders had been essential to shaping the anti‑trafficking movement. Krell referenced AB 22 and the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act while urging continued legislative action.

Not all remarks focused solely on the resolution’s language. Assemblymember De Maio urged colleagues to pair rhetoric with policy changes, saying, "You cannot talk about ending human trafficking if you don't talk about securing the US border," and calling for lawmakers to examine state policies he believes create vulnerabilities. Assemblymember Bonta and others pushed for survivor‑centered policies, warning against criminalizing people who have been trafficked and calling for investments in survivor services.

Assemblymember Gibson described a case he has raised previously, naming a 16‑year‑old victim and recounting efforts that led to funds and investigative actions in that case: "Her body was placed in a glad trash bag, and her body was dumped on the 110 freeway... We were able to raise a $120,000 leading to the apprehension and the arrest of the individual," Gibson said.

The Assembly acknowledged survivor leaders and advocates in the gallery. Assemblymembers Pellerin and Krell introduced guests including Josie Feimster (Preventing and Addressing Child Trafficking regional coordinator, Child and Family Policy Institute of California), Mercy Gray (senior gender‑based violence specialist, Family Violence Law Center), April Grayson (senior policy manager, Sister Warriors Freedom Coalition), and other survivor advocates and organizers.

ACR 9 does not appropriate funds or create a new program; it is an expression of legislative intent and recognition. The resolution opens the legislative calendar to further discussion of concrete policy measures and survivor services, a point several members urged as floor debate closed.

Clerk records show the role was opened for coauthors, 69 members signed on, and the resolution passed by voice vote. No roll‑call vote tally was recorded in the transcript for final passage.