SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - Nine bills supported by the Little Hoover Commission were signed into law this year, including four measures that will strengthen efforts against intimate partner violence and other legislation to address labor trafficking, organic waste disposal, and customer-centric government.

“Seeing our recommendations embraced by the legislature and Governor Newsom and then turned into concrete policy improvements speaks to the Little Hoover Commission's bi-partisan approach to solving California's complex challenges,” said Commission Chair Pedro Nava. “We are honored that our work is helping to protect many of California's most vulnerable.”

The Commission is a nonpartisan 13-member body appointed by the Governor and legislative leadership, and charged with making recommendations for policy changes that will foster efficiency, economy, and improved service in state government. The Commission supports legislation and other actions that implement its recommendations.

The four bills addressing intimate partner violence implement recommendations stemming from a pair of Commission reports on that topic. Among other reforms, those reports urged a focus on prevention and early intervention, accompanied by adequate funding.

Three of the bills address prevention and early intervention:

AB 2308 (Davies) extends from 10 to 15 years the maximum duration of a protective order issued against people convicted of certain domestic violence offenses.

SB 1394 (Min) creates new ways for survivors to stop a domestic abuser from tracking their car.

SB 989 (Ashby) enhances investigation procedures in cases involving domestic violence-related deaths.

The fourth bill, AB 2432 (Gabriel, Cervantes, Reyes), establishes a California Crime Victims Fund, which will disburse fines paid by corporations convicted of illegal activity, to assist victims, including survivors of intimate partner violence.

“These new laws will make a real impact in the lives of people who experience intimate partner violence,” said Commissioner Janna Sidley, who chaired the Commission’s subcommittee on IPV, “We want to congratulate Assemblymembers Davies, Gabriel, Cervantes and Reyes and Senator Min, for their important work in getting these bills passed, and the Governor for signing them.”

Two other approved bills further the goals of recommendations from three Commission reports on labor trafficking. Detecting labor trafficking is particularly difficult as few understand the nature of the crime, and implementation of state human trafficking laws has focused primarily on sex trafficking.

Even when these crimes are successfully identified, cases that bring traffickers to justice remain rare. The Commission recommended that the state should empower state agencies to investigate labor trafficking crimes and conduct public education and outreach campaigns to increase awareness of all forms of human trafficking.

AB 1888 (Arambula and Ramos) establishes a dedicated labor trafficking unit within the California Department of Justice to receive labor trafficking reports from law enforcement agencies and other entities and refer those reports to appropriate agencies for action. AB 1966 (Davies) requires ticket sellers to include information and resources for human trafficking victims with all ticket purchases for events at an entertainment venue.

“These reforms will help California serve those victimized by labor trafficking, an often-hidden crime,” said Commission Vice Chair Anthony Cannella. “Assemblymembers Arambula, Ramos and Davies should be very proud of this important milestone.”

In a 2023 report, Reducing California’s Landfill Emissions: SB 1383 Implementation, the Commission determined that California is falling short in the fight against harmful landfill emissions, a major contributor to climate change. The report featured recommendations that would help further the state’s efforts to curb methane emission, including:

Build as much flexibility as possible for local governments to recycle their organic waste.

Expand the list of compliance pathways and products eligible to count toward a jurisdiction’s procurement requirements.

Plan for the necessary infrastructure to achieve the state’s environmental goals, facilitate community composting, speed up the permitting process, and make any necessary changes to the relationship between state and local governments to better reflect shared responsibility for waste management.

Two approved bills will further the goals of these recommendations. AB 2346 (Lee) provides flexibility to local governments in how they comply with procurement requirements for recovered organic material. SB 1046 (Laird) requires a Program Environmental Impact Report for small and medium composts facilities to streamline permitting and help the state meet its climate goals.

AB 2455 (Gabriel) modernizes whistleblower laws and add protections to prevent the misuse of state funds and is in line with numerous Commission recommendations through the years regarding fiscal accountability.

Here are details of the nine bills that were supported by the Commission and that were signed into law this year.

Intimate Partner Violence

SB 989 (Ashby) expands law enforcement and coroners’ duties when a deceased person has a history as victim of domestic violence. Allows additional access to coroner records for family members when litigating a victim’s death.

AB 2432 (Gabriel, Cervantes, Reyes) establishes the California Crime Victims Fund in the State Treasury and would require that moneys deposited in the fund be continuously appropriated to the Office of Emergency Services to support crime victims’ services.

AB 2308 (Davies) authorizes a court to issue a protective order for up to 15 years. Authorizes the issuing court, upon a written petition by the prosecuting attorney, defendant, or victim, to modify or terminate the protective order for good cause if the parties receive notice at least 15 days before the hearing on the petition. Expands the scope of a crime to create a state-mandated local program.

SB 1394 (Min) establishes a process for the rapid termination of a domestic abuser’s access to app-connected, remote, and GPS-based vehicle technology. Requires car manufacturers to disable an abuser’s access to remote vehicle technology within two business days of a survivor’s request provided sufficient documentation, such as proof of legal possession of the vehicle or a domestic violence restraining order that awards possession of the vehicle in question.

Labor Trafficking

AB 1966 (Davies) requires a primary ticket seller to include information regarding nonprofit organizations that provide services or support in the elimination of slavery and human trafficking.

AB 1888 (Arambula and Ramos) establishes the Labor Trafficking Unit within the Department of Industrial Relations to receive, investigate, and prosecute complaints alleging labor trafficking and take steps to prevent it. The Unit will also coordinate with the Labor Enforcement Task Force, the Criminal Investigation Unit, the Department of Justice, and the Civil Rights Department to combat labor trafficking.

Organic Waste Disposal

AB 2346 (Lee) authorizes local jurisdictions to be credited for the procurement of recovered organic waste products through an agreement with a direct service provider. Recovered organic waste that local jurisdictions procure from specified compost operations also count towards the local jurisdiction’s procurement target.

SB 1046 (Laird) requires CalRecycle to prepare and certify completion of an environmental impact report that would streamline the process for jurisdictions to develop small and medium organic waste composting facilities.

Customer-Centric Government

AB 2455 (Gabriel) modernizes local and state whistleblower hotline laws and add protections to prevent the misuse of state funds. These changes are meant to improve accountability, increase public trust, and ensure government actions and transactions are transparent.