PRESS RELEASE
AB 2101 - Assemblymember Gipson Introduces Legislation to Protect Disaster Recovery Workers from Human Trafficking and Exploitation
Sacramento, CA (Feb. 18, 2026) -- As climate change accelerates the frequency and severity of wildfires, floods, extreme heat, and drought across California, the state’s reliance on disaster recovery workers – also known as “second responders*” or "resilience workers**" - has never been greater. Yet the same climate-fueled crises that demand rapid rebuilding are creating fertile ground for labor trafficking and exploitation. Second responders are predominately immigrants and are frequently subjected to wage theft, hazardous conditions without proper training or equipment, and twice as likely to be trafficked at disaster rebuilding sites compared to non-disaster worksites. In response, new legislation introduced today seeks to protect the essential workers who rebuild our communities after climate catastrophes.
After a natural disaster strikes, utility crews, debris removal teams, construction workers, electricians, roofers, and day laborers are needed to rebuild communities. These workers are fundamental to the state’s ability to return to normalcy following a climate emergency. Yet the dangers these workers have long faced are now more intensely compounded by unprecedented aggressive federal immigration enforcement. Often working outdoors in plain sight and hired in informal or temporary capacities, second responders are particularly vulnerable to ICE raids. Further, unethical employers and supervisors increasingly weaponize threats of immigration enforcement to keep workers laboring without pay, to force them into jobs they did not agree to perform, or to compel them to continue working in unsafe and hazardous conditions.
Disaster conditions amplify trafficking risks. Weakened infrastructure, isolated worksites, and informal labor markets create environments where traffickers and unscrupulous employers can operate with impunity. California has previously recognized that certain industries face elevated trafficking risks. Under Civil Code § 52.6, the state requires “Know Your Rights” postings in high-risk sectors. Since 2013, the law has expanded to cover 15 industries. This new legislation builds on that framework by addressing disaster recovery worksites - an increasingly visible and high-risk sector as climate change drives more frequent and severe disasters.
Survivors of human trafficking consistently report that earlier access to information about their rights and available resources could have enabled them to escape exploitation sooner. This bill responds directly to that insight by expanding California’s proven “Know Your Rights” (KYR) posting requirements under Civil Code § 52.5 to disaster recovery worksites and establishing standardized training requirements to ensure workers can recognize trafficking risks and access support.
As climate-related disasters become more frequent and immigration enforcement actions intensify, the need for proactive worker protection is urgent. This legislation represents an important first step toward closing a dangerous gap in California’s anti-trafficking framework.
*The term “second responders” was coined by the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON), which has worked extensively with many second responders in the aftermath of natural disasters, including the 2025 Los Angeles fires. NDLON improves the lives of day laborers, migrants, and low-wage workers by building leadership and power among communities facing injustice. Read more about their work here https://ndlon.org/
**The term “Resilience Worker” was coined by Resilience Force, a national non-profit organization that was founded in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Resilience Force works to create a new, stable workforce for disaster recovery and climate adaptation in the U.S. Read more about their work here https://www.resilienceforce.org/
