New Legislation Would Prevent Human Traffickers From Keeping Their Profits

It only makes sense that human traffickers convicted of enslaving young girls should have to pay -- literally. A new state bill passed through committee today would force those criminals to give up any profits they make from trafficking minors in California.

San Francisco Senator Mark Leno authored the bill, which passed the Assembly 's Public Safety Committee, expanding on the current list of assets traffickers must forfeit upon conviction. What's more, those diverted finances will go toward helping victims of human trafficking, providing them with treatment and other much-needed services, according to Attorney General Kamala Harris.

"Sex trafficking of minors is a horrendous crime that is driven by the prospect of lucrative profits," Leno said in a statement. "This legislation aims to deprive convicted criminals of the financial resources and assets that would allow them to continue luring young people into the sex trade."

S.B. 1133 was passed unanimously, and is headed to the Assembly Appropriations Committee for consideration.

In addition to the bill, Harris, who has made human trafficking a priority since assuming her post as attorney general -- is sponsoring a bill of her own that will require more victims of human trafficking to get restitution. That bill will be heard on June 26. She also announced this week plans to work with Yahoo! to combat human trafficking as it has migrated to the Internet.

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