SLO County lawmaker wants to help first responders spot human trafficking. Here’s how

Central Coast Assemblyman Jordan Cunningham wants paramedics and EMTs to get better at identifying human trafficking.

Cunningham’s new bill, AB 2130, would require emergency medical technicians and paramedics in California to complete trafficking-awareness training upon receiving or renewing a license.

“Human trafficking victims are rescued by ordinary people who recognize the signs of trafficking and are brave enough to act,” Cunningham, R-Templeton, said in a Thursday news release. “As front-line emergency workers, EMTs and paramedics are uniquely situated to interact with trafficking victims. Training these workers to recognize the signs of trafficking will save lives.”

The bill is modeled after another Cunningham co-authored in 2018 that required hospitality employees to complete similar training.

Cunningham also introduced AB 1788 earlier this month, which would allow district and city attorneys to impose civil penalties on hotel and motel owners if supervisors did not alert law enforcement of apparent trafficking cases happening on their property.

Cunningham, a former prosecutor, represents San Luis Obispo County and part of Santa Barbara County. He’s introduced several bills that increase tools available to law enforcement to go after traffickers and increase human trafficking victims’ access to services, according to the news release.

Since being elected in 2016, four of Cunningham’s anti-human trafficking bills have been signed into law.

This story was originally published February 20, 2022 at 5:00 AM.