Posted on 09/12/2023 3:38:44 PM PDT by nickcarraway
A California bill that would make child sex trafficking a serious felony is one step away from Gov. Gavin Newsom's desk.
Senate Bill 14, authored by Sen. Shannon Grove, R-Bakersfield, passed the state Assembly with a 79-0 vote and now heads back to the state Senate in order for that house to approve a change made to the bill two weeks ago. The Assembly-approved bill includes an amendment that lawmakers say ensures human trafficking victims, who can sometimes be forced to help traffickers, are not prosecuted under the proposed law.
"We are one step closer to making the horrific crime of child sex trafficking a serious felony," Grove said in a statement after the vote. "SB 14 will increase jail time for repeat offenders who sell children for sex and commit the most heinous acts on our children.”
Classifying child sex trafficking as a serious felony under California law would make it a strikable offense, meaning repeat offenders or those who have committed other strikable offenses could face more time, including life, in prison. Grove has said the purpose of the measure is to prevent repeat child sex traffickers from being released from prison early.
Assemblymembers on both sides of the aisle noted this is the sixth time lawmakers have proposed the idea, which has been defeated repeatedly by a key committee known for rejecting measures that increase prison sentences to avoid inflating prison populations.
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The bill, which unanimously passed the State Senate earlier this year, had a rocky start when it reached the Assembly this summer. Lawmakers in that key committee, the Assembly Public Safety Committee, were forced to reverse their decision to block the bill after facing intense backlash from the public and some Democratic state leaders, including Gov. Gavin Newsom.
California lawmakers vote to end travel ban to states with anti-LGBTQ+ laws Members of the Assembly Appropriations Committee also placed SB 14 onto a "suspense file," which is a list of legislation expected to cost the state at least $150,000. Bills placed on suspense go through special hearings known for the fast pace at which lawmakers either pass or block legislation without any public explanation.
"It's appalling that we had to fight this hard to pass a commonsense measure holding traffickers accountable for some of the most horrific crimes imaginable," Republican Assemblyman James Gallagher said in a statement after the vote. "It shouldn’t take nationwide outrage for Democrats to finally stand with victims. With today’s vote, we are one step closer to delivering justice."
Democrats who did not support the measure in its early stages in the Assembly agreed to approve it Wednesday with the recent changes that they said make sure victims would not be prosecuted with the serious felony classification. Some noted the proposal overall would reopen California's three strikes law for the first time in a decade.
"The policy conversations that existed around this legislation are not over, are important are necessary," Assemblyman Isaac Bryan, D-Los Angeles, said. "I would strongly encourage this body to think very, very carefully before we go down a pathway when the criminal legal system becomes the answer for poverty, exploitation, the failing of our children and failing of entire communities."
It's not clear when exactly the State Senate will vote on the changes. The legislature's deadline to pass new proposed laws for the year is September 14.
They’re just now making this a serious offense?
Exception for groomer-teachers, democrat-politician, drag-queens, and residents of San Francisco/Oakland!
Hard to believe child sex trafficking isn’t already a serious felony anywhere in the US. Sounds like the democRATs had to be dragged kicking and screaming because it might infringe on their MAP constituents. As Pelosi would say, “it’s for the children.”
That’s one way to depopulate Hollywood and the SF Bay area.
Let’s watch and see who moves, and watch them very closely...
Will probably pass if it has the Hollywood exemption included.
Should be a Death Penalty carried out the same day. Short rope tall tree for a message to others.
But it’s okay to mutilate a five year old for a sex change?
Yes, add in libraries, the public square, and any other
place designated by deviants as places needing protection.
So the California government is indicating itself of felony child trafficking.
Indicting... damnit.
It was already a felony with a range of serious sentences up to life in prison. Making it a “serious felony” has to do with how ot interacts with California’s three strikes laws.
I think it already is a serious felony.
Thanks for clarifying--call me old-fashion but when it comes to child sex trafficking the sick ba$tard should only get one strike.
Was this a hard decision?
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