02-05-2025
Anti-sex trafficking of minors bill moves forward with amendment after heated debate
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — California lawmakers became engaged in a heated discussion after Democrats in the Assembly forced amendments to exclude 16- and 17-year-olds on the bill against the sex trafficking of minors.
Assembly Bill 379, which originally intended to make it a felony to solicit and purchase any minor under the age of 18 for sex, received forced amendments by Democratic leaders earlier this week to exclude cases when minors aged 16 or 17 are purchased for sex.
Democratic leaders said they were concerned about 16- and 17-year-old victims getting arrested for being forced to take part in illegal activity by traffickers.
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They also added a new amendment saying, 'It is the intent of the legislature to adopt the strongest laws to protect 16- and 17-year-old victims and strengthen protections in support of survivors of human traffickers.'
At the Assembly meeting on Thursday, Republicans and some Democrats said this amendment doesn't propose any clear action.
That's when things got heated in the legislature.
'Wake up and realize you are on the wrong side of this issue,' Assemblymember Carl Demaio (R-San Diego) said.
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Some Democrats argued including trafficking victims between the ages of 16 and 17 could have unintended consequences.
'There could be a situation in which there's a 18-year-old and 17-year-old that are in high school together,' Assemblymember Ash Kalra (D-San Jose) said. 'There is a wide range of conduct that prosecutor should be able to use their ability for discretion.'
In the end, the majority of Democrats agreed to reject the Republican proposal to bring back the bill's original protections of 16- and 17-year-olds and instead approve their new amendments.
Assembly Bill 379 now heads to the Assembly Appropriations Committee with the amendment.
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