Press Releases –
Governor Signs Swanson Bill Authorizing Tax Contributions to Help Sexually Exploited Minors
AB 764 Supports Wrap-Around Services for Child Victims of Human Trafficking
Sacramento, CA - Assemblymember Sandré R. Swanson (D-Alameda) is pleased to announce that Governor Brown signed AB 764. The bill establishes the Child Victims of Human Trafficking Fund to support organizations that defend the nearly 300,000 American children estimated to be at risk of commercial sexual exploitation each year.
“Countless organizations throughout the state provide vital support services to child victims of sexual exploitation,” explained Assemblymember Swanson. “AB 764 facilitates these important treatment services by authorizing individual taxpayers to contribute amounts in excess of their tax liability to the Child Victims of Human Trafficking Fund for later distribution to community-based organizations that serve victims of human trafficking.”
Taxpayers may contribute to a variety of organizations listed on their personal income tax form. AB 764 adds community-based organizations that protect sexually exploited minors to that list.
Swanson explained that California is out of touch with the magnitude of child prostitution and trafficking in the state. “Our state lacks a consistent process through which appropriate victim services can be provided to thousands of children who are struggling out on the street. With the Governor’s signature on this bill, our state can begin plucking these young girls from the eye of a hurricane and plant them in safe environments where they can be what they are: children.”
Contact: Amy Alley, 916-319-2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Amy Alley (916) 319-2016
September 15, 2011
BILL TO SEIZE PROFITS FROM CHILD SEX TRAFFICKERS
AWAITS GOVERNOR’S APPROVAL
(Sacramento, CA) – Assemblymember Swanson’s bill to expand the list of human trafficking-related activities subject to criminal profiteering asset forfeiture unanimously passed both houses of the Legislature and awaits the Governor’s approval.
“Sex traffickers are using young girls as human ATM machines,” explained Swanson. “Domestic sex trafficking has nearly doubled since 2006. Drug traffickers are migrating to pimping because it’s more profitable than selling drugs. AB 90 takes the profit out of child sex trafficking by authorizing the state to seize the profits and use them to support commercially sexually exploited minors.”
Criminal profiteering asset forfeiture is a criminal proceeding held in connection with a criminal trial. It is a way for the state to collect the ill-gotten profits that were acquired through criminal activity. Forfeiture law covers everything from sex crimes and drug trafficking to forgery, but certain forms of commercial sexual exploitation are not included. AB 90 expands the list to include, among other things, exploitation accomplished through psychological coercion.
“It’s time to take the profit out of child sex trafficking. Bottom line – if you dare to make money by sexually exploiting our children, the state will seize those profits. It’s that simple,” concluded Swanson.
AB 90 is part of Swanson’s 5-year legislative effort to stop the commercial child exploitation of children in California. This year his efforts included AB 12, which increases the fines against “Johns” caught with minors to up to $25,000; AB 764, which allows taxpayers to make a voluntary donation on their tax forms to organizations providing services to commercially sexually exploited minors; and AB 799, which expands a diversion program in Alameda County. AB 12 and AB 799 were both signed by Governor Brown. AB 764 and AB 90 await his signature.
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AMY ALLEY | Deputy Legislative Director and Communications Director
Office of Assemblymember Sandré R. Swanson
Capitol Office, P.O. Box 94249-0016
Sacramento, California 95814
Phone: 916.319.2016 | Fax: 916.319.2116
http://www.assembly.ca.gov/swanson | amy.alley@asm.ca.gov
For information about ACR 105 and Perinatal Depression Awareness Month or for media who wish to contact SPAC urgently, please call Cat Carlton at 650-575-4523.
See also our contact page for additional information.
California Junior Leagues Celebrate First Anniversary of California’s ‘Perinatal Depression Awareness Month’ with New Actions to Provide Help to New Mothers
State and local initiatives to put information into the hands of those who need it most
Los Angeles, May 11, 2011 – With the help of the Junior Leagues of California, May is now Perinatal Depression Awareness Month in the country’s largest state. But there’s more to be done.
Last year, the Junior Leagues of California State Public Affairs Committee (CAL SPAC) worked closely with Assembly Member Pedro Nava (D-Santa Barbara) to sponsor Assembly Concurrent Resolution (ACR) 105. The resolution declared May as Perinatal Depression Awareness Month in California as well as encouraged various stakeholders to form a statewide taskforce to work collaboratively on this pressing issue. CAL SPAC is now also co-sponsoring a new ACR, ACR 53, also known as the “Kelly Abraham Martinez Act” after Kelly Martinez, a young mother who took her own life after battling a severe case of postpartum depression. The resolution specifically addresses the need to educate women during their pregnancies about perinatal depression. Says Joy Burkhard, past co-chair of CAL SPAC, “Our hope is that by encouraging stakeholders to educate pregnant women about the risk factors and triggers for perinatal depression we can prevent these devastating disorders from taking over new mothers during this delicate and important time.”
CAL SPAC, which includes representatives from 16 of the 18 Junior Leagues in California, also worked with state legislators to produce a PSA that will air in Los Angeles, Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay area. For a recording of the PSA, click here. Additionally, several CAL SPAC delegates on behalf of their Leagues have worked with their county boards of supervisors and city councils to proclaim the month of May Perinatal Depression Awareness Month locally, helping to further increase awareness in California.
In an effort to reach more women, CAL SPAC has endorsed the effort of Postpartum Support International to designate May as national Maternal Depression Awareness Month.
The work has also been shared with individual Junior Leagues in California, which are working to get practical, hands-on information into the hands of women, in addition to legislators and government officials.
Last year, for example, the Junior League of Los Angeles (JLLA) worked with the Los Angeles Perinatal Mental Health Task Force to create an awareness campaign tied into the national “Speak Up When You’re Down” public awareness campaign for Los Angeles County’s first annual Perinatal Depression Awareness Month. This year, JLLA has expanded the “Speak Up…” campaign through social media outreach, website presence, public relations outreach, newspaper ads, posters, palm cards and brochures, public service announcements and billboards. For samples of the campaign materials and more information about perinatal depression, click here.
Other Leagues throughout the state also have been promoting Perinatal Depression Awareness Month by distributing “Speak Up…” campaign materials. For example, members from Leagues including Orange County, Bakersfield, San Diego, Palo Alto•Mid Peninsula and Long Beach as well as Los Angeles are delivering informational material to hospitals and birthing centers. Awareness activities by the Junior Leagues of Napa-Sonoma, San Jose, Pasadena, Fresno, San Francisco and Oakland-East Bay have also included educating members, recording PSAs in English and Spanish, talking with local legislators and writing letters to editors of local newspapers.
Delly Beekman, President of The Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc., said, “The work that California’s Junior Leagues are doing to combat perinatal depression demonstrates the power of association that allows dedicated volunteers to coalesce around a compelling idea and, in doing so, create lasting community impact.”
About The Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc.
Founded in 1901 by New Yorker and social activism pioneer, Mary Harriman, the Junior Leagues are charitable nonprofit organizations of women, developed as civic leaders, creating demonstrable community impact.
Today, The Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc. (AJLI) is comprised of more than 155,000 women in 292 Junior Leagues throughout Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom and the United States. Together, they constitute one of the largest, most effective volunteer organizations in the world.
by Tracy Van Buskirk, Marketcom PR
ACR 105 – Designating May as “Perinatal Depression Awareness Month” in California Passes April 22, 2010:
Recent media mentions -
SFGate.com: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/incontracosta/detail?entry_id=88228 May 2011.
WestSide Today: http://www.westsidetoday.com/s12-5045/may-is-a-month.html By Amy Sommer, May 4, 2011.
Record Bee: http://www.record-bee.com/ci_17987566 By Jeremy Walsh, May 3, 2011.
LilSugar.com: http://www.lilsugar.com/Perinatal-Depression-Awareness-Month-16265183 May 5, 2011.
First5LA: http://www.first5la.org/articles/perinatal-depression-awareness-month-task-force-works-to-inform-raise-awareness May 2, 2011.
Parrotized.com: http://www.parrotized.com/society/family/lil-community-may-is-perinatal-depression-awareness-month.htm May 5, 2011.
SonomaNews.com: http://www.sonomanews.com/News-2011/Speak-up-when-you-039re-down/ by Editor, Index-Tribune, May 2, 2011.
AJLI Connected: http://connected.ajli.org/2011/05/it%E2%80%99s-always-nice-to-be-noticed/ May 2011.
DenverPost.com: “What Can ‘Volunteers’ Achieve? Junior Leagues of California State Public Affairs Committee Celebrates 40th Anniversary of Legislative Advocacy on Women’s and Children’s Issues,” by Business Wire News Releases, December 22, 2010.
Fresno Bee: “Moms’ attacks on kids stir talk of depression“, by Barbara Anderson & Eddie Jimenez, May 5, 2010.
BlogHer: “May Is Now & Forevermore Perinatal Depression Month in California Thanks to Junior League“, by Katherine Stone, April 24, 2010.
MotherTalkers: “Saturday Morning Open Thread“, by Elisa Batista, April 24, 2010.
ACR 105 was profiled by the Association of Junior Leagues International in the August 2010 publication of 
in an article titled Small Risk, Big Reward.
Click here for a complete list of ACR 105 News Coverage.
(More notations to be added in the near future from our archives.)
