Bill Text: CA SCR102 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children Awareness
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-03-25 - Introduced. Referred to Com. on RLS. [SCR102 Detail]
Download: California-2013-SCR102-Introduced.html
BILL NUMBER: SCR 102 INTRODUCED
BILL TEXT
INTRODUCED BY Senator Yee
(Principal coauthors: Assembly Members Olsen and Pan)
MARCH 25, 2014
Relative to commercially sexually exploited children.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SCR 102, as introduced, Yee. Commercial Sexual Exploitation of
Children Awareness Week.
This resolution would recognize April 21, 2014, though April 27,
2014, as California's Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children
Awareness Week.
Fiscal committee: no.
WHEREAS, President Obama declared January 2011 National Slavery
and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, culminating in National
Freedom Day on February 1, 2011; and
WHEREAS, President Obama called "upon the People of the United
States to recognize the vital role we can play in ending modern
slavery," and that fighting this scourge is a shared responsibility;
and
WHEREAS, Our nation was founded upon the principle of freedom, and
we affirmed this principle with the ratification of the 13th
Amendment to the United States Constitution that guaranteed people
within our borders protection from slavery; and
WHEREAS, Americans are committed to individual freedom and will do
all that they can to help eliminate modern day slavery, which
includes human trafficking; and
WHEREAS, Human trafficking can occur in many forms. Sex
trafficking, a modern form of sex slavery, is one type of trafficking
that men, women, and children are subjected to; and
WHEREAS, The United States Department of State's "Trafficking in
Persons Report 2013" describes how the United States is a growing
magnet for traffickers to conduct their illegal and inhumane
business; and
WHEREAS, Americans widely recognize children as a vulnerable
population worthy of, and in need of, protection from those who would
seek to take advantage of them, and children are not currently safe
from commercial sexual exploitation. The Federal Bureau of
Investigation (FBI) estimates that 100,000 children are sold for sex
each year in the United States; and
WHEREAS, Despite national, state, and local efforts to address sex
trafficking, commercial sexual exploitation is a growing industry;
and
WHEREAS, California is a prime destination for human trafficking,
along with other states including New York, Texas, and Nevada; and
WHEREAS, California's large international border, numerous ports
and airports, and overall large economy make children in this state
particularly vulnerable to human trafficking; and
WHEREAS, The Legislature has recognized January 2013, and each
January thereafter, as National Slavery and Human Trafficking
Prevention Month, and has recognized February 1, 2013, and each
February 1 thereafter, as California's Free From Slavery Day; and
WHEREAS, Forms of child sexual exploitation include child sex
trafficking, child pornography, and child sex tourism; and
WHEREAS, Children in California are particularly vulnerable to
commercial sexual exploitation. The FBI has determined that three of
the nation's 13 High Intensity Child Prostitution Areas are located
within California in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego; and
WHEREAS, Children who fall prey to sexual exploiters are
frequently those with prior involvement in the child welfare system.
The California Child Welfare Council reports that 50 to 80 percent of
victims of commercial sexual exploitation are or were previously
involved with the child welfare system. Many of these children have a
history of sexual abuse; and
WHEREAS, Commercial sexual exploitation of children in California
was previously perceived as primarily an international issue, the
domestic nature of this problem is becoming increasingly evident.
California's nine human trafficking task forces identified 1,277
victims over two years, 72 percent of whom were from the United
States; and
WHEREAS, Commercial sexual exploitation of children usually begins
during adolescence. For boys, the average age of onset is between 11
and 14 years of age, and for girls the average age of onset is
between 12 and 14 years of age; and
WHEREAS, It is presumed that many more cases of commercial sexual
exploitation of children are not identified. The concealed nature of
these crimes poses a barrier to identifying and rescuing commercially
sexually exploited children. Raising awareness is vital to
addressing the commercial sexual exploitation of children; and
WHEREAS, Children who are or were commercially sexually exploited
often suffer chronic health problems. This includes high rates of
mental health disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder,
depression, and sleep disorders. Sexually transmitted infections such
as HIV and AIDS are the most common medical consequences of
commercial sexual exploitation of children; and
WHEREAS, Many commercially sexually exploited children are
funneled into the juvenile justice system as delinquents rather than
focusing on providing intervention and rehabilitation services as
victims; and
WHEREAS, The Legislature recognizes the vital role California can
play in preventing, and one day ending, this modern day sex slavery
of children; now, therefore be it
Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the Legislature recognizes April 21, 2014,
though April 27, 2014, as California's Commercial Sexual Exploitation
of Children Awareness Week; and be it further
Resolved, That the Legislature calls upon all Californians to
follow the charge of the Congress of the United States to adopt the
approach of the "4Ps--prosecution, protection, prevention, and
partnership," in order to end sex slavery of children; and be it
further
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this
resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
