AB 1888 – Department of Justice Labor Trafficking Unit

Under existing laws, the Office of the Attorney General’s Office, Department of Industrial Relations (DIR), and Civil Rights Department (CRD) all carry out separate functions and duties related to the enforcement of California’s labor and civil rights laws.

Assembly Bill 1888 (AB 1888) establishes within the California Department of Justice (DOJ) a new Labor Trafficking Unit (Unit) that is tasked with the following functions and duties related to the enforcement of California’s labor and civil rights laws:

• Receive labor trafficking reports or complaints from law enforcement agencies and other governmental entities and refer the reports or complaints to appropriate agencies for investigation, prosecution, or other remedies;
• Coordinate with the DIR, CRD, District Attorneys’ offices, other state departments, and tribal, state and local law enforcement within whose jurisdiction labor trafficking may occur; and
• Follow a victim-centered approach when processing labor trafficking reports or complaints and ensure that victims are informed of the services and options available to them.

(AB 1888 adds section 12530.5 to the Government Code.)