To raise awareness and provide resources to potential victims of human trafficking, California Civil Code Section 52.6 now mandates that, as of April 1, 2013, all On Sale General Public Premises (Type 48) retail licensees, along with certain other types of businesses, must post a notice about human trafficking. The United States Department of State estimates that 14,500-17,500 victims are trafficked into the United States each year, with California as one of the country’s top four destination states.

The notice must be posted in a conspicuous place (near the public entrance or in clear view of the public and employees), measure at least 8.5 inches by 11 inches, and the following message must appear in at least size 16 font:

“If you or someone you know is being forced to engage in any activity and cannot leave—whether it is commercial sex, housework, farm work, construction, factory, retail, or restaurant work, or any other activity—call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at 1-888-373-7888 or the California Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking (CAST) at 1-888-KEY-2-FRE(EDOM) or 1-888-539-2373 to access help and services. Victims of slavery and human trafficking are protected under United States and California law.

The hotlines are:

Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Toll-free.
Operated by nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations.
Anonymous and confidential.
Accessible in more than 160 languages.
Able to provide help, referral to services, training, and general information.”

This notice must be in English and Spanish, and a model notice is available here. 

For more information on this posting requirement, call the Victim Services Unit at the California Attorney General’s Office toll free: (877) 433-9069.

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