Two California lawmakers cross party lines in continued fight targeting people who buy children for sex – Soroptimists Together Against Trafficking

Two California lawmakers cross party lines in continued fight targeting people who buy children for sex

KCRA —

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California lawmakers from both political parties are now working together to make sure all teenagers under the age of 18 have the same protections under the state’s new laws that have ramped up the consequences for those who buy and sell children for sex.

The push comes after California’s Democratic-led legislature approved a bill last year, SB 1414, to make it a felony to purchase or solicit a child 15 years old and younger for sex. Before the law took effect months ago, it was a misdemeanor crime in California. Republican Bakersfield State Senator Shannon Grove originally filed that bill to protect all children under the age of 18. “I made a promise last year that we would come back and keeping fighting for 16- and 17-year-olds,” Grove said in an interview with KCRA 3 this week. “This is not a third world country thing. It’s happening right underneath our noses.”

Enter Democratic Sacramento Assemblymember Maggy Krell who filed AB 379 this week with Grove. The bill would solidify the felony conviction for anyone who purchases or solicits a 16 or 17-year-old for sex. | MORE | Escaping The Blade: KCRA 3 Investigates documentary details dire Sacramento sex trafficking problem Krell prosecuted human traffickers and exposed backpage.com as an attorney with the California Department of Justice. She noted the state’s stiffer penalties for child sellers applies to those who committed the crime against anyone 18-years-old and younger, regardless of if the victim was forced into it or not. She said the law should be consistent when it comes to those who purchase them, too. “We’re still seeing throughout California girls being sold for commercial sex, seeing a lot of teenagers. Creeps in cars lining up to buy teenagers. We need to do more to address demand. So this bill really does that,” Krell said standing alongside Grove. Krell pointed to a University of San Diego study showing the average age of those who enter into trafficking in that area is 16 years old.

The bill also attempts to change parts of a state law passed in 2022 that decriminalized loitering for prostitution. The proposal specifically would make it a misdemeanor to loiter with the intent to buy anyone for sex and include up to a $1,000 fine.

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