Assembly committee pivots on teen sex trafficking bill after rebuff from Newsom

The California Legislature File photo by Florence Middleton CalMatters Last week Democratic lawmaker Maggy Krell a former sex trafficking prosecutor for the California Attorney General s Office was angry when her ordinance was torched This week it was a far different story Last Tuesday s loss is this week s preeminence with particular caveats The Assembly Society Safety Committee which had originally cut out a key element of Krell s sex trafficking bill Assembly Bill changed its mind and put it back in AB will now once again increase the punishment for trafficking of - and -year-olds Last week that increase was removed by the same committee The charge for trafficking is already a felony if a child is under the age of This bill includes - and -year-olds if it can be proven they were trafficked or if the offender is more than three years older than a child victim This final element was reportedly to pacify the progressive wing which for specific time now has been concerned about measure which increases criminal penalties and expressed worries about parents who might use the law to threaten teens over their relationships What happened after their vote no doubt influenced this week s backtrack The decision was widely broadcasted in local state and national media Gov Gavin Newsom straightaway criticized the committee s decision and he was soon joined by powerful Democratic and Republican lawmakers as well as hundreds of California s anti-trafficking and victim patronage organizations The goal has dependably been to hammer the creeps who are buying teens for sex and create more backing for casualties Krell revealed in a message The assemblywoman also mentioned the new version of the bill accomplishes these goals and makes it a felony for a grown man to buy a child for sex I appreciate everyone s work on this bill especially the survivor coalition for never giving up Krell noted I m gratified that the Legislature listened to the anguish of the survivors voices announced San Diego District Attorney Summer Stephan adding that in her view it was about time that California s laws protect all children from the horrors of human trafficking On Wednesday AB heads to the Assembly Appropriations Committee It is expected to clear the Assembly but there are no assurances when it reaches the Senate which last year removed the -to- felony enhancement in another bill