In conjunction with efforts by the International Cruise Victims Association (ICV), major legislation to improve safety on cruise ships has just been announced in California by Assembly member Roger Hernández (D – West Covina), according to the ICV.

Hernández has introduced legislation that would ensure the rights of cruise ship patrons when a crime is committed against them while they are at sea. Assembly Bill 1060 would allow California law to apply to crimes committed at sea, and would require every cruise line to provide notification to passenger victims that they can pursue additional avenues of recourse when reporting a crime.

“Cruises are intended to be a vacation at sea, and when crimes are committed on cruise ships, victims are basically held captive with their perpetrator until the ship docks,” said  Hernández. “AB 1060 provides relief for cruise ship victims who may otherwise not be able to find justice today.”

According to the ICV, its objectives are not to damage cruise lines but to hold them accountable for the safety of future passengers and crewmembers and to require prompt and accurate reports to authorities of crimes, deaths, disappearances and other matters that would normally be investigated if they had occurred on land.

“ICV commends the leadership of Assembly member Roger Hernández with the introduction of legislation to further protect the passengers arriving in California ports that have been a victim of a crime on a cruise ship,” said Jamie Barnett, resident of California and President of ICV. “In addition to the new Federal legislation passed last year, this important legislation will provide even greater protection and options for passengers to make sure that justice takes place when they are a victim of a crime on a cruise ship. ICV sees this legislation as being a model for other states to better protect the passengers that arrive in their states on cruise ships.”