Section 1696.8.

(a) The director shall establish a Farm Labor Contractor Enforcement Unit. The unit shall develop a program to provide technical assistance to a district attorney's office that establishes a local farm labor contractor enforcement unit. A local farm labor contractor enforcement unit established pursuant to this section shall, whenever possible, coordinate its enforcement efforts with the Rural Crime Prevention Program in its jurisdiction, if any, established pursuant to Section 14171 of the Penal Code. Any funds appropriated to the department for purposes of this section shall be administered and allocated by the director.

(b) A local farm labor contractor enforcement unit that receives technical assistance pursuant to this section shall concentrate enhanced prosecution efforts and resources on the prosecution of farm labor contractors who violate a state law regulating wages. For purposes of this subdivision, "enhanced prosecution efforts and resources" include, but are not limited to, all of the following:

(1) "Vertical" prosecutorial representation, whereby the prosecutor who makes the initial filing or appearance performs all subsequent court appearances on a particular case through its conclusion, including the sentencing phase.

(2) Assignment of highly qualified investigators and prosecutors to farm labor enforcement cases.

(3) Significant reduction of caseloads for investigators and prosecutors assigned to farm labor enforcement cases.

(Added by Stats. 2001, Ch. 157, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 2002.)