By Assemblymember Catherine Stefani–
(Editor’s Note: This issue of the San Francisco Bay Times launches a new column, Catherine’s Corner, by former District 2 Supervisor and current California State Assemblymember Catherine Stefani. Phil Ting, her predecessor in the Assembly, was for many years a columnist for the Bay Times.)
A longtime ally of the LGBTQ+ community, she will in this column address a variety of issues from her perspective at the state level and representing the 19th Assembly District, which encompasses the western neighborhoods of San Francisco and northern San Mateo County.)
Would you trust your tax dollars to a company that uses child labor? Right now, California just might be. That’s why I authored AB 381, which passed out of the State Assembly last week. This bill is a crucial first step toward modernizing our procurement policies and ensuring that California’s government contracts no longer support forced labor in global supply chains.
California spent nearly $19 billion on goods and services in 2022–2023—everything from construction materials and computers to uniforms and cleaning supplies. But many of these products come with a hidden cost: labor trafficking and forced labor of children and vulnerable workers around the world.
California’s current procurement system is turning a blind eye.
Despite the known risks of forced and child labor in global supply chains, California has not updated its procurement policies since 2007. That means billions in taxpayer dollars could be going to companies that profit from abusive labor practices and potential labor trafficking.
We can no longer afford to look the other way.
With federal enforcement of anti-trafficking protections waning under the current administration, California has a unique opportunity—and responsibility—to step up. Assembly Bill 381 offers a clear path forward by aligning state procurement rules with the federal anti-trafficking standards established in 2016.
These federal standards require contractors to do what should be obvious: take meaningful steps to prevent trafficking and forced labor in their supply chains. That includes creating compliance plans, training employees, and holding subcontractors accountable. If a company fails to take these basic precautions, it shouldn’t get public money—simple as that. By adopting these measures, AB 381 ensures that California’s purchasing power supports ethical business practices, not exploitation.
AB 381 doesn’t ask California to invent a new system—it simply asks us to catch up. These federal standards have been on the books for nearly a decade. It’s time we bring that same level of accountability and transparency to our state contracts. Updating these policies now is also crucial as federal oversight and leadership around national and global worker protections can be expected to wane under the current administration.
California has already shown it can lead the way in tackling complex global problems—from climate change to digital privacy. We are the fourth-largest economy in the world. When we update our procurement policies to reflect 21st Century realities, we send a powerful message: forced labor is unacceptable, and responsibility is non-negotiable.
This is not just a moral issue. It’s a matter of good governance and smart economics. Human trafficking undercuts legitimate businesses, destabilizes communities, and fuels a global criminal economy. We shouldn’t be subsidizing that with public contracts.
This bill is a crucial step toward a future where California’s economic strength is matched by its ethical leadership. With AB 381, we have the chance to ensure that our tax dollars uphold the values we claim to stand for: dignity, fairness, and human rights.
Let’s not waste that opportunity.
Assemblymember Catherine Stefani represents California’s 19th Assembly District, which includes the west side of San Francisco and northern San Mateo County. With a background as a prosecutor, policy analyst, and San Francisco Supervisor, she has long been a champion for public safety, affordable healthcare access, and government accountability. Stefani founded the San Francisco chapter of Moms Demand Action and has been a steadfast advocate for gun violence prevention and support for survivors of domestic violence.
Catherine’s Corner
Published on June 12, 2025
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