Results of the SB 1193 Day of Action

Results of the SB 1193 Day of Action:

Check of Designated Businesses for Human Trafficking Poster

April 5, 2014

Senate Bill 1193, passed in 2012, enacted California Civil Code Section 52.6, which requires designated businesses to display an anti-human trafficking poster. The law applies to certain bars, emergency rooms, urgent care centers, truck stops, bus stations, intercity passenger rail or light rail stations, primary airports, farm labor contractors, privately operated job recruitment centers, rest areas, sexually oriented businesses, and certain massage and bodywork businesses. The poster must be located in a conspicuous place and contain specific language and hotline numbers. In San Francisco, it must be posted in English, Spanish, and Chinese. Businesses violating this law are subject to a $500 fine for a first offense and a $1000 fine for each offense thereafter.

On March 6, 2014, the Department on the Status of Women (Department) mailed a copy of the poster and a cover letter signed by the Mayor Ed Lee and Police Chief Greg Suhr, and a fact sheet, to 687 San Francisco businesses required to post the notice. On April 5, 2014, the Department organized a city wide check of bars, hospitals, and adult establishments. Thirty-three volunteers fanned out to 13 neighborhoods and visited 203 San Francisco businesses for the presence and appropriate placement of the poster.

Of the businesses visited, 65 were closed at the time of the check (32%) and 138 were open (68%). Of the businesses that were open, only 14 had the posters up in a conspicuous location (10%), and 28 businesses allowed volunteers to post the notice upon visiting (20%). Thirty-five businesses indicated that they would put up the poster at a later time (25%). Sixty-one (44%) businesses declined to display the notice that day.

Total businesses visited: 203

Businesses Open: 138

Of Open Business:

Poster up: 14 (10%)

Volunteers put poster up: 28 (20%)

Businesses indicated they would put the poster up later: 35 (25%)

Other: 61 (44%)

4 | San Francisco Department on the Status of Women