California Democrats faced backlash this week after making significant amendments to a bipartisan anti-sex trafficking bill, causing the lead author to accuse them of “mutilating” the legislation. The bill, SB 1414, aimed to crack down on those who purchase sex with minors and required convicted individuals to register as sex offenders.
Republican state Sen. Shannon Grove, the lead author of the bill, expressed her frustration with the changes made by Democrats, which limited proposed charges to apply only if the child is younger than 15. Grove’s original bill sought to toughen the punishment for child trafficking, increasing it from a misdemeanor to a felony with a maximum penalty of four years in prison and a $25,000 fine.
Despite Grove’s efforts to strengthen the bill, Democrats opposed certain provisions, including the requirement for perpetrators to register as sex offenders. The amendments were pushed through by Democratic senators Scott Wiener, Nancy Skinner, and Aisha Wahab in a 4-0 vote, skipping a procedural vote to prioritize the amendments.
Grove criticized the amendments, emphasizing that the bill targeted buyers engaging in commercial sex with minors, not consensual relationships. She highlighted the importance of addressing the issue to protect vulnerable minors from exploitation.
While Democrats argued that the bill was overly broad and could unintentionally criminalize young adults in consensual relationships with minors, Grove remained steadfast in her commitment to combatting sex trafficking. She vowed to continue working on the bill and seeking amendments to address the issue effectively.
The contentious debate over SB 1414 is part of a larger conversation around combating sex trafficking and protecting vulnerable populations. The amendments made by California Democrats have sparked controversy and raised questions about the best approach to addressing this critical issue.
