Bolster Student Safety and Human Trafficking Awareness in Higher Ed

AB 1845 provides higher education institutions with important tools to recognize, prevent, and respond to human trafficking and better protect California’s college students. Human trafficking is a local, state, national and global crisis that affects people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds. It occurs in rural, suburban, and urban communities and can affect economically and demographically diverse populations. College students may be particularly vulnerable to risk factors such as housing instability, lack of social or familial support, and limited awareness of exploitative situations. A 2023 study of college students across 12 Southern California campuses found that 42% of students reported knowing someone who had sold sex or been trafficked while in college. Nearly one in five students (18%) reported experiencing human trafficking themselves during college. Research shows that training those who encounter trafficking victims is essential to recognizing the warning signs and knowing how to respond and intervene. Higher education faculty, staff, and administrators are uniquely positioned to identify potential trafficking and help connect students with appropriate resources. Increasing awareness and strengthening prevention strategies are critical to protecting college students from exploitation. AB 1845 will strengthen campus prevention and response by requiring postsecondary institutions to: Update employee sexual harassment training to include human trafficking and require annual training. Include human trafficking-related crimes in campus crime records. Establish written agreements with law enforcement agencies clarifying responsibilities for investigating human trafficking. Adopt a human trafficking policy that identifies trafficking as a state and federal crime and describes physical signs that may indicate trafficking.  We respectfully ask for your signature on AB 1845.