SACRAMENTO, California — In a contentious move on April 17th, 2024, California Democrats have sparked controversy by amending a bipartisan anti-sex trafficking bill, drawing strong condemnation from its lead author, Republican state Sen. Shannon Grove.
The bill in question, SB 1414, aimed to combat child trafficking by imposing stricter penalties, including felony charges for those purchasing sex with minors and mandatory registration as sex offenders for those convicted. However, Democrats introduced amendments that significantly altered the bill’s scope, limiting proposed charges to cases involving minors under the age of 15.
Sen. Grove decried these amendments as detrimental to the bill’s original intent, labeling them as a “mutilation” during an interview with local media. The amendments, she argued, diluted the proposed legislation, undermining efforts to combat child trafficking effectively.
The original version of SB 1414 sought to enhance penalties for child trafficking, elevating it to a felony offense punishable by up to four years in prison and a $25,000 fine. Additionally, it aimed to close loopholes by imposing penalties irrespective of the perpetrator’s awareness of the child’s age and mandating registration as a sex offender. However, Democratic opposition prevented the inclusion of the latter provision.
Concerns raised by Democratic members of the public safety committee centered on the bill’s perceived broadness, fearing it could criminalize consensual relationships involving young adults and minors. Despite Sen. Grove’s assertions that the bill targeted commercial sex rather than consensual relationships, Democrats proceeded with the amendments.
This recent development follows Democrats’ earlier blockage of a similar bill, SB 1219, aimed at recriminalizing street loitering for prostitution. The bill sought to reinstate provisions targeting public solicitation, highlighting ongoing debates within California’s legislative landscape regarding measures to combat sex trafficking and related offenses.
