At SB 1190’s second Assembly policy hearing, Amanda Simmons testified in support of the Safe Passage for Youth Act before the Communications and Conveyance Committee, which voted 9–0 to pass the bill as amended. Testifying at both policy committees meant making the same case in two different registers: to a child-welfare committee, why the trip is part of the placement; to a transportation committee, why the passenger changes the duty of care.

At the bill’s first Assembly hearing, Amanda Simmons testified in support of SB 1190, the Safe Passage for Youth Act, which would license and regulate youth transportation companies in California. The Human Services Committee voted 7–0 to pass it. SB 1190 would require the Department of Social Services to license and regulate youth transportation companies operating in the state to prevent serious harm.

Amanda Simmons testified in support of SB 1111 (Ashby), which clarifies that a person’s voice or likeness includes a digital replica. The Assembly Public Safety Committee voted 9–0 to pass the bill. SB 1111 addresses digital replicas — computer-generated, highly realistic representations that are readily identifiable as a real person’s voice or visual likeness, depicting that person saying or doing something they never said or did.

This 3-part ABA webinar series explores the history, policy solutions, and legal challenges and presents practical solutions for effective change.  Resolution 605 was adopted by the American Bar  Association in 2023 because of decades of well-documented abuse within the Troubled Teen Industry and youth residential treatment centers.  Despite this awareness, little has been done to protect children in institutional settings.

Amanda Simmons, lead attorney and founder of Ambika Law, helped advocate for and pass House of Delegates Resolution 605 at the American Bar Association’s 2023 Annual Meeting alongside 11:11 Media Impact advocates and survivors Caroline Cole and Chelsea Maldonado.