California Democratic legislators have significantly altered a proposed law aimed at making it a felony to solicit children for sex. The move has generated controversy, especially given that the bill had backing from prominent political figures.
• Assembly Bill 379, introduced by Assemblywoman Maggy Krell and State Sen. Shannon Grove, aimed to address gaps left by a previous law that only made it a felony to pay minors for sex, excluding those aged 16 and 17.
• After public backlash about the bill being near-abandoned, it was reinstated to the legislative agenda with support from Governor Gavin Newsom and Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis.
• Assembly Public Safety Chairman Nick Schultz decided to hold hearings on the issue in the fall, as Democratic legislators removed the felony provision for purchasing sex from minors.
• Republicans submitted an amendment to restore the original provision, which Krell expressed support for, signaling she does not view it as “hostile. ”
• The debate on the Assembly floor included sharp exchanges, with issues of discrimination and the impact of prior legislation on sex trafficking being highlighted.
Law enforcement officials have raised concerns about rising incidents of child sex trafficking, emphasizing the ongoing crisis as the legislature adjusts its approach to this sensitive issue.
https://www.thecentersquare.com/california/article_4cf6d0ba-a9f2-4c6b-8ea6-cb5abc6e6a62.html
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