Sen. Shannon Grove’s human trafficking bill advances past Assembly committee

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — A bill by Bakersfield Republican State Senator Shannon Grove to increase penalties against adults who purchase children for sex has advanced in the legislature, but not the way she had hoped.

The Assembly Public Safety Committee officially voted this week to advance SB 14-14. If signed, the legislation would classify the purchasing of minors 15 years and younger for sex as a felony.

But Grove said she’s frustrated because when she introduced the bill earlier this year, it targeted adults who sex traffic all minors, including 16 and 17-year-olds.

This week, Democratic Public Safety Committee chairs added amendments to the bill that would require 16 and 17-year-olds to first prove in court they are victims of sex trafficking. Only then could the sex purchaser be charged with a felony.

“It should not be that difficult to get a bill out of this building that protects children from those who want to purchase them and buy them for sex should be a no-brainer. If a grown man purchases children for sex, they should go to prison,” Sen. Shannon Grove (R) Bakersfield said.

Democrats say the changes they added to the bill will still protect 16 and 17-year-olds and make it easier to get the bill to the governor’s desk.

SB14-14 will head to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

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