Calif. activists oppose bill harshening penalties for child sex trafficking, solicitation

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (TND) — Activists in California are opposing a bill which would increase the penalties for soliciting sex with minors.

The bipartisan measure, SB1414, would make it a felony offense for an adult to solicit or pay for sex with a minor. Amendments to the measure require that those accused of soliciting sex with minors aged 16 or 17 can only be charged with the increased penalty if the minor has been a victim of sex trafficking.

I believe that adults who attempt to, or actually buy children for sex in the state of California, should go to prison on a felony charge,” the bill’s author, state Sen. Shannon Grove, R-Bakersfield, said in a hearing of the California State Assembly’s Public Safety Committee last week.

Several activists in attendance at the hearing asked committee members to oppose the bill due to the way it allegedly harms "marginalized communities."

“I’d like to acknowledge the survivors [of sex trafficking] here today and name that we all have the shared goal of protecting children from harm,” Isabella Borgeson from the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights said. “We are concerned that the harsher penalties contained in this bill will disproportionately impact marginalized communities, particularly Black and brown individuals who already bear the brunt of systemic biases within our criminal justice system.”

The speaker went on to suggest the committee focus on addressing the “underlying issues driving exploitation.”

We do feel this bill is deeply flawed and contradicts our core values and principles,” Kellie Walters of Legal Services for Prisoners with Children said. “We are particularly concerned that the harsher penalties proposed in this bill will disproportionately impact marginalized communities, especially members of the LGBTQ community who already suffer from systematic biases within the criminal justice system, particularly when it comes to sexually-based offenses.”

“I find it to be very difficult to swallow,” Assemblymember Tom Lackey, R-District 34, replied. “I think it’s misguided, misdirected— however you want to put it— sympathy.”

“Overly punitive?” he asked the opposition. “That’s insulting to victims.”

The committee went on to pass the amended version of the measure, which now sits with the appropriations committee.

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