California’s child sex trafficking bill nears passage.
A California Bill to Combat Child Sex Trafficking Advances in Legislature
A California bill aimed at addressing the issue of child sex trafficking has taken a significant step forward in the state Legislature. The bill, known as Senate Bill 14, was authored by Sen. Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield) and recently passed the state Assembly Appropriations Committee on September 1.
This important legislation, if enacted, would add child sex trafficking to the list of serious felonies and impose stricter penalties on repeat offenders. The bill initially faced evaluation as part of the suspense file, where bills with significant fiscal impact are collectively assessed.
Thanks to the committee’s decision, the bill will now proceed for further consideration by the Legislature. Sen. Grove expressed her gratitude to parents and Californians for actively participating in the political process, emphasizing the crucial role they played in advancing this legislation.
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According to Sen. Grove, the public’s involvement and engagement were instrumental in driving the progress of this legislation. Through social media, petitions, and phone calls, citizens made their voices heard, urging the Appropriations Committee to take action.
Senate Bill 14 had previously received bipartisan and unanimous support in the Senate. However, it faced resistance in the Assembly Public Safety Committee in July. In response to public outrage, a special hearing was convened, resulting in a majority of committee members changing their votes to support the bill.
Sen. Grove emphasized the significance of citizen engagement in shaping government decisions, stating that people’s opinions matter and that elected officials are there to represent them.
Opposition to SB 14 arose from concerns that victims of trafficking who were coerced into participating could be charged with serious felonies. To address these concerns, the Appropriations Committee recommended amendments to the bill, which were accepted by the author. Sen. Grove clarified that these amendments reaffirm existing statutes that protect victims from prosecution.
With support from 64 lawmakers and numerous advocacy groups across the state, Senate Bill 14 will now proceed to the Assembly for further consideration. Assemblywoman Diane Dixon (R-Newport Beach), a co-author of the bill and member of the Appropriations Committee, celebrated its passage from the suspense file, highlighting the urgent need to combat human trafficking in California.
If the bill successfully passes the Assembly, it will return to the Senate for reconsideration with the proposed amendments. If approved by September 14, the bill will then be sent to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk for signature.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom
Gov. Gavin Newsom expressed his desire to work with the bill’s author and the Legislature in July when the bill stalled.
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