Jim Hartnett
AbelIn an effort to crack down on human trafficking, Caltrain has declared its support for a new state bill that would require transit agencies statewide to teach employees how to identify and report the crime when they encounter it.
San Mateo County Transit District CEO and General Manager Jim Hartnett expressed his support for the bill in a letter he wrote earlier this month to Gov. Jerry Brown.
“We support this bill because training our employees to recognize and report signs of human trafficking allows us to both improve and continue to prioritize the safety of our customers and community,” he wrote in the letter.
If Assembly Bill 2034 is signed by the governor, then Caltrain and SamTrans would adopt a human trafficking awareness program similar to that of the Valley Transportation Authority, said Caltrain spokesman Dan Lieberman, and both agencies could be reimbursed by the state for the minimal cost of that training.
Current law does not mandate a human trafficking awareness training program, but does require businesses and other transportation-related establishments that may come into contact with the victims of human trafficking to post public notices on how to report the crime, according to Hartnett’s letter. Hartnett said states with posting requirements similar to California’s have seen an increase in reported crimes and victim rescues.
If enacted, AB 2034 would expand those rules and require the California Department of Justice to work with anti-human trafficking and transportation organizations to come up with training guidelines on or before July 1, 2020, and implement the training by Jan. 1, 2021, according to the letter.
VTA’s training program began in 2015. All new employees are shown videos, PowerPoint presentations and participate in discussions led by experts. Through the training, they learn to recognize potential red flags, such as lack of freedom and control and poor mental and physical health, said VTA spokeswoman Holly Perez. When employees encounter indicators of human trafficking, they follow a protocol on how to report the activity.
Caltrain feels confident that AB 2034 will be signed by the governor.
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