California legislators, law enforcement, and advocates support new Assembly bill punishing people purchasing sex from minors
Those who spoke said they've made progress in targeting sex traffickers themselves, but not enough action has yet been taken to punish those who purchase sex from minors being trafficked. Officials who spoke believe this bill can help change that.
San Diego District Attorney Summer Stephan said she's seen rows of cars lined up to solicit sex from minors as if buyers were in line at a fast-food drive-through, placing an order.
'It is a terrible reality that while President Lincoln thought that he had ended slavery, that today in America we have human trafficking, modern-day slavery, as the second largest criminal industry in our nation,' the DA said.
Under current California law, it's a misdemeanor to solicit or offer sexual services.
This bill would make it a felony to purchase sexual services from anyone under the age of 18. Current California law only makes it a felony to purchase sex for a child 15 and under.
Local law enforcement expressed frustration with the status quo.
'We could be arresting someone in the same parking lot, and another buyer pulls up to buy somebody else because they're so oblivious to it, they don't care,' Sacramento County Sheriff and former Assembly Member Jim Cooper told reporters. 'Why are we protecting them? They're abusing young girls, it makes zero sense.'
The bill would offer a diversion program and establish a survivor fund to support victims.
Sacramento Democratic Assembly Member Maggy Krell authored the bipartisan bill.
'It helps support those girls, helps them rebuild their lives while penalizing the sleazy men who are buying them in terms of setting up this fund that would come directly from those buyers, it would be a $1,000 fine,' Krell said.
Marjorie Saylor was a victim of sex and labor trafficking for 17 years, beginning at age 15. She now works as an advocate for victims and says this bill could be a game-changer. Targeting buyers, she said, is a crucial step in the right direction.
'In the first incident where I nearly lost my life, before he beat me, he said you're just a prostitute, nobody's gonna care, I can do whatever I want to you,' Saylor told FOX40. 'And he was right.'
California also has the fifth-highest number of missing and murdered Indigenous people in the country. Regina Cuellar is the chairwoman of the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians and spoke alongside California legislators in support of the bill.
'Native Americans account for 40% of trafficking victims despite comprising only three percent of the U.S. population, these statistics are unacceptable,' Cuellar said. 'Assembly Bill 379 marks an important step in confronting those who prey on Indigenous children and all at-risk youth.'
Those in attendance agreed that the time for change is now.
'This bill needs to be remembered as California declaring for the first time that our children are not for sale,' San Diego DA Stephan continued. 'I am amazed that this is even up for debate, aren't you?'
The Public Safety Committee will vote on the Assembly Bill next week.
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