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AB-1583 • 2026

Criminal procedure: jurisdiction.

Criminal procedure: jurisdiction.

Crime Labor
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Rogers
Last action
2026-03-12
Official status
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The exact impact on court procedures is unclear and would depend on future interpretations by judges.

Expanding Where Wage Theft and Labor Trafficking Cases Can Be Tried

This law would allow criminal cases involving wage theft and labor trafficking to be tried in more counties, including where the victim lived or worked, or where the business was located.

What This Bill Does

  • Adds new places where a case about wage theft can be heard by courts.
  • Includes locations like where the worker lived, signed their contract, did some work, or where the company had offices when the crime happened.
  • Also applies to labor trafficking cases.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Victims of wage theft and labor trafficking
  • Businesses accused of these crimes

Terms To Know

Wage Theft
When an employer does not pay workers the money they earned.
Labor Trafficking
Forcing someone to work against their will, often through threats or violence.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify how this change affects existing cases.
  • The exact impact on court procedures is unclear and would depend on future interpretations by judges.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-12 California Legislative Information

    In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.

  2. 2026-03-12 California Legislative Information

    Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 71. Noes 0. Page 4228.)

  3. 2026-03-05 California Legislative Information

    Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.

  4. 2026-03-04 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (March 3).

  5. 2026-02-02 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on PUB. S.

  6. 2026-01-14 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee February 13.

  7. 2026-01-13 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1583, as introduced, Rogers.
Criminal procedure: jurisdiction.
Existing law sets forth specific rules relating to the jurisdiction for the prosecution of theft by fraud, organized retail theft, and receiving stolen property, including that the jurisdiction for prosecution includes the county where an offense involving the theft or receipt of the stolen merchandise occurred, the county in which the merchandise was recovered, or the county where any act was done by the defendant in instigating, procuring, promoting, or aiding or abetting in the commission of a theft offense or other qualifying offense.
This bill would make the jurisdiction of a criminal action for wage theft or labor trafficking, as defined, also include the county in which the victim resided at the time of the wage theft or labor trafficking, the county in which the victim was present at the time the employment contract was entered into, the
county in which any portion of the work was performed, or the county in which the business or any of its locations was situated at the time of the wage theft or labor trafficking, as specified.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Download Bill PDF