Proposition 35

Currently, both federal and state law prohibit human trafficking. The Federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act defines human trafficking as the recruitment and transport of persons by use of force, fraud, or in which the victim is under the age of 18 to perform a commercial sex act or perform labor and other services. California state law defines human trafficking as violating the liberty of another person with the intent to commit felony crimes or obtain forced labor or services. State law punishes human trafficking offenders with prison sentences up to five years or, if the victim is under 18, with a sentence of up to six years. Offenders who are convicted of human trafficking involving sex are required to register as sex offenders with their local police or sheriff's departments. 

Proposition 35 would change state stalking law in several ways:

• The definition of human trafficking would be expanded. Crimes involving the creation and distribution of childhood pornography would now be considered a form of human trafficking.
• The penalties for human trafficking would be made more severe. A maximum of 12 years would be the maximum for labor trafficking crimes and 20 years would be the maximum penalty for human trafficking crimes.
• Sex trafficking of minors which involves fraud or force would become punishable by life in prison.
• Offenders convicted of human trafficking who have previous convictions for trafficking will receive an additional five years on their prison terms for each prior conviction.
• Offenders who are convicted of trafficking that resulted in great bodily injury to the victim could receive an additional ten years on their sentence.
• Criminal courts would be permitted to impose fines of up to $1.5 million for human trafficking crimes.
• Funds collected from fines on human trafficking pay for services for trafficking victims. 70 percent of funds would be allocated to public agencies and non-profit organizations that provide support services to victims. The remaining 30 percent would be allocated to law enforcement agencies for prevention, witness protection, and rescue operations.
• Evidence that a person was involved in sex crimes can not be used against them if it is determined that the person committed the crime due to being a victim of human trafficking.
• The evidence of sexual conduct by a victim of human trafficking could not be use to attack their credibility or character in court.