Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Sen. Brian Jones‘ bill to help keep foster children from becoming victims of child labor trafficking.
The East County Republican’s Senate Bill 584 requires foster parents to be trained on how to identify child labor trafficking in addition to the sex trafficking instruction in the current requirements.
“Foster kids in particular are disproportionally more vulnerable to being targeted by criminals for child labor trafficking,” said Jones, who represents the 38th District. “Things are already challenging enough for foster kids and we need to help prevent the threat of them being forced into child labor trafficking.
“SB 584 will require that family training already provided to foster parents also includes information to help combat and prevent child labor trafficking,” he added. “We should do everything to support foster children getting back to being kids.”
The legislation was based on recommendations by the independent California Little Hoover Commission and the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking.