Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a new bill into law to protect students from sexual assault and human trafficking, according to CalMatters Digital Democracy database. The law requires California colleges and postsecondary institutions to provide employee training addressing human trafficking.
The law expands campus safety requirements to address human trafficking and sexual crimes through employee training, campus policies and reporting procedures.
Cal Poly is included among these institutions and must provide new and additional annual employee training that includes information about recognizing human trafficking, identifying people at risk and reporting concerns.
On top of increased training, the legislation also aims to hold offenders accountable. According to the governor’s office, it prohibits prosecutors from offering immunity or leniency in cases involving human trafficking, pimping or pandering of minors.
University Spokesperson Keegan Koberl said Safer, an on-campus program within Campus Health and Wellbeing, offers confidential support and education on gender- and power-based violence. The program organizes events, delivers presentations and partners with campus clubs and organizations to educate students.
“In addition to concerns such as sexual assault, stalking, intimate partner violence and harassment, Safer’s educational efforts cover coercion and human trafficking — and students are taught how to identify those structures, how to help friends that they may see experiencing them and how to access confidential advocacy and support resources,” Koberl wrote in an email to Mustang News.
Natalie Elliott, a mechanical engineering junior, said her parents helped her become familiar with recognizing human trafficking and exploitation and when to contact someone for help.
“So honestly, it’s better to say something than not,” Elliott said. “You can always call [Cal Poly Police Department] non-emergency, and I think that’s very helpful.”
The law also requires campuses to update written agreements with local law enforcement to clarify who is responsible for investigating human trafficking on campus. It prohibits any failure to comply with these requirements of reporting human trafficking to the institution or law enforcement.
Existing state law already requires covered institutions to adopt policies addressing sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking as a condition of receiving state funds for student financial assistance. However, policies now must address human trafficking involving students, faculty or staff under the new law.
“It encourages us to clarify how students, faculty and staff can seek help, how we can strengthen coordination across campus and with law enforcement, how we can protect confidentiality, and how we can ensure that our services are accessible to students, faculty and staff experiencing different forms of exploitation,” Koberl wrote.
The law aims to support students by making campus resources more visible and providing employees with in-depth training to recognize concerns and connect students with help.
Elliott pointed to potential student resources as a type of support she would like.
“I would love to make it easier to get something like, I don’t know, maybe drink test strips or identifiable markers, like bracelets, when you’re going out, stuff like that. Anything that just makes it easier. Like, we’re all gonna go out. We know we are, but maybe we can have something that goes out with us,” Elliott said.