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Senator Shannon Grove’s Senate Bill 1414 (SB 1414) passed out of the Assembly Appropriations Committee. SB 1414 addresses the lucrative crime of sex trafficking and aims to increase penalties for those who purchase children for sex.
Senator Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield) issued the following statement.
“Today the scales of justice tipped in favor of the victims of child sex trafficking. SB 1414 has passed out of the Assembly Appropriations Committee and is moving to the Assembly for a full floor vote. Thankfully, once signed, predators who purchase any child ages 15 and below for sex would be charged with a felony.
"The original version of my bill included protections for children of all ages. However, Senator Wahab, the Chair of the Senate Public Safety Committee forced amendments on the bill which left 16 and 17-year-old children out of these additional felony protections, allowing a misdemeanor to be charged for this heinous crime.
"I will not stop fighting until all of California’s children are equally protected, but I am thankful we are stepping in the right direction.”
SB 1414 will move to the Assembly Floor for a full vote by the Assembly.