AB 380: Establishes Labor Trafficking Unit

Assembly Bill 380 by Assemblyman Joaquin Arambula (D-Fresno) was introduced to establish a Labor Trafficking Unit. AB 380 would add Labor Code Section 107.1.

The bill would establish within the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE) the Labor Trafficking Unit (LTU). The LTU would be required to coordinate with the Labor Enforcement Task Force, the Criminal Investigation Unit, the Department of Justice, and the Civil Rights Department to combat labor trafficking.

The LTU would receive and be required to investigate complaints alleging labor trafficking and take steps to prevent labor trafficking. The LTU would also have to refer cases to the appropriate state department or the Attorney General for either civil actions or criminal actions. The Division of Occupational Safety and Health would be required to notify the LTU when, upon investigating businesses under their purview, there is evidence of labor trafficking.

In addition, the LTU would be required to file annually a report to the Legislature that includes specified data and information, as well as a discussion of the major challenges to addressing labor trafficking complaints, the ongoing efforts to address those challenges, and options to improve the state’s claim process.