SACRAMENTO, CA – Continuing her advocacy on behalf of victims of human trafficking, Senator Ling Ling Chang (R-Diamond Bar) announced that the California State Senate passed Senate Bill 35 with bipartisan support in a 37-0 vote.
SB 35 creates a uniform system for governments and organizations to work together and includes the first comprehensive study on trafficking in California, which hosts the highest rate of human trafficking in the United States.
“California is home to the fifth largest economy in the world, and with its proximity to international borders and numerous ports and airports, our state is a prime breeding ground for human trafficking,” said Senator Chang. “I’m very glad the Senate approved my bill to help combat this form of modern day slavery. The scourge of human trafficking impacts all races, ethnicities, ages and genders. It cuts at the very fiber of civil society and challenges the resources of law enforcement, the courts, and social service providers.”
Since Senator Chang’s tenure, she has advocated on behalf of victims of human trafficking.
In 2018, Senator Chang introduced SB 991, which called on the state to reinstate $15 million to support victims of human trafficking. Her efforts to fight alongside important advocates secured $10 million in funding for service providers.