News release
Sen. Suzette Martinez Valladares, R-Acton, announced that two of her public safety bills unanimously passed the Senate Public Safety Committee and will advance in the legislative process.
“Both of these bills are about protecting the most vulnerable,” Valladares, whose district includes the Santa Clarita Valley, said in a news release. “Government’s No. 1 job is public safety. We must step between young victims of violent crimes and their perpetrators — and that’s exactly what these bills do.”
Senate Bill 1395 — “Kayleigh’s Law: Strengthening Protections for Childhood Survivors of Sex Offenses” — allows judges the discretion to issue protective orders against perpetrators for up to 25 years in cases involving childhood victims of felony sexual assault. Under current law, protective orders last between four and seven years.
“When orders expire, victims are forced to return to court, coming face to face with their perpetrators and being revictimized, simply to renew their protection,” the release said.
The bill would close a dangerous gap in current law, the release said: A child harmed at a young age can lose court-ordered protection before reaching adulthood. A 25-year order eliminates that risk.
“This is a common-sense solution to limit re-victimization and support healing,” Valladares added. “There is no good reason young victims should have to keep coming back to court to prove they still deserve protection.”
SB 1022 — “California Multidisciplinary Alliance to Stop Trafficking (MAST) Act” — establishes a statewide task force to evaluate and improve collaboration between government agencies and nonprofit organizations serving human trafficking victims.
The task force will identify best practices, close gaps in services, and strengthen California’s coordinated response to trafficking, the release said. Findings and recommendations will be reported to the governor, the attorney general, the Legislature, and the Office of Emergency Services.
“Human trafficking is an evil, complex and evolving crime that demands a coordinated response,” Valladares said in the release. “This bill ensures we have an all-hands-on-deck approach to better protect trafficking victims and hold traffickers accountable.”
Both bills now advance to the Senate Appropriations Committee for further consideration.
