CVU Supports SB 1018
Turning Awareness Into Action: Why SB 1018 Matters
Human trafficking is often described as a hidden crime, but its impact is anything but invisible. Survivors across California face long and complex paths toward recovery, often with limited access to the resources they need.
Senate Bill 1018 takes a unique approach to addressing that gap by turning public awareness into direct support.
What SB 1018 Does
SB 1018 creates a specialized license plate program in California to generate funding for services that support survivors of human trafficking.
Revenue from the license plate and voluntary donations will go into a dedicated fund administered by the California Office of Emergency Services. These funds will then be distributed as grants to community-based organizations providing critical support to survivors.
This creates an ongoing, sustainable funding source tied directly to public participation.
Centering Survivor-Led Support
One of the most important aspects of SB 1018 is its focus on survivor-led and survivor-informed programs.
Grant funding will prioritize organizations that are:
Led by survivors of human trafficking, or
Guided by individuals with lived experience
This ensures that services are shaped by those who understand the realities of trafficking firsthand.
It is a shift from simply providing services to ensuring those services are relevant, effective, and rooted in real experience.
Reaching the Communities That Need It Most
SB 1018 also takes a targeted approach to distribution.
Funds will be allocated geographically to reach areas with higher concentrations of human trafficking. This helps ensure that support is not only available, but accessible to the individuals and communities most impacted.
By focusing resources where they are most needed, the bill strengthens the overall response to trafficking across the state.
Why This Matters
Survivors of human trafficking often need long-term, comprehensive support that can include:
Safe housing
Counseling and mental health services
Legal assistance
Job training and reintegration support
These services require consistent funding, not one-time solutions.
SB 1018 helps bridge that gap by creating a funding stream that grows with public awareness and engagement.
A Practical Path Forward
For more than four decades, Crime Victims United has worked to ensure that victims are not only recognized, but supported in meaningful ways.
SB 1018 reflects that mission. It connects awareness with action, and action with real resources for survivors.
Support SB 1018
Human trafficking demands both visibility and sustained support.
SB 1018 offers a practical, community-driven solution that empowers survivors and strengthens the services they rely on. Crime Victims United is proud to support this measure and urges an AYE vote.