Author Of California Child Sex Trafficking Bill Forced To Exclude Felony Charge For Buyers Of Teen Victims

A California quality trafficking measure to combat kid sex trafficking is being gutted pinch nan reluctant statement of nan bill’s writer to region a proviso that targets consumers successful an effort to get nan authorities passed. 

State Assemblywoman Maggy Krell, a Democrat, agreed to region a clause from Assembly Bill 379 that states buyers of 16 and 17-year-olds for activity would look felony charges, leaving nan inducement of those minors by adults to beryllium treated arsenic a misdemeanor. 

"In bid to get a proceeding connected nan bill, we were forced to region nan portion of nan measure that ensures nan crime of purchasing a insignificant for activity applies successful each cases wherever nan unfortunate is nether nan property of 18," Krell told Fox News Digital.

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A position of nan California authorities capitol building connected National Urban League California Legislative Advocacy Day connected March 13, 2024 successful Sacramento, California. (Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for National Urban League)

"I wholeheartedly disagree pinch that amendment," she added. "This has been my life’s activity and I will proceed to partner pinch activity trafficking survivors and rule enforcement to guarantee each minors are protected from nan horrors of activity trafficking."

Krell noted that nan measure still criminalizes "the creeps who are loitering to bargain teenagers for activity and sets up a money to thief victims. Those will beryllium powerful devices successful nan conflict against activity trafficking — it’s a bully start."

California Assembly Republicans quickly criticized Democrats complete nan change. 

"Why are immoderate @AssemblyDems readying to trim felony charges for adults who bargain 16- and 17-year-olds for sex?," California Assembly Republicans posted connected X. "There are nary excuses. Protect nan kids. Not nan predators."

Earlier, media reports stated that lawmakers wanted to clasp disconnected connected nan measure and perchance clasp accusation hearings connected nan rumor successful nan fall. 

The measure came together aft older teens were near retired of a authorities rule that went into effect this twelvemonth that makes it a felony to acquisition a child, ages 15 and younger for sex. Last year, California State Sen. Shannon Grove authored a measure that made it forbidden to bargain minors for sex, but it excluded 16 and 17 year-olds.

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California Assemblymember Maggy Krell, a Democrat, connected Monday said she agreed to region a proviso successful her kid activity trafficking measure that  ensures nan crime of purchasing a insignificant for activity applies successful each cases wherever nan unfortunate is nether nan property of 18. (Assemblymember Maggy Krell)

Currently, traffickers, not nan buyers, look nan harshest consequences erstwhile convicted of trafficking anyone nether 18. 

AB 379 faced a cardinal deadline this Friday and was dropped from nan Public Safety Committee schedule for Tuesday's meeting.

State Rep. David Tangipa, a Republican, said nan move was a measurement to termination a measure that lawmakers don't want to beryllium heard. If Krell didn't want to judge nan amendment, past nan committee chair, Rep. Nick Schultz, would person discretion complete whether nan authorities should beryllium heard, Tangipa said. 

"Apparently, what they want to do is region nan 16 and 17-year-old information of nan measure and past conscionable summation penalties and fines," Tangipa, who has a comparative who was antecedently trafficked, told Fox News Digital. "What that really sounds for illustration is conscionable California participating successful nan adultery and nan trafficking themselves."

Fox News has reached retired to Schultz's agency and nan authorities Democrats. 

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In a station connected X, nan California Republican Party criticized nan authorities Democratic Party, saying that it was "sad and disgusting that this is moreover a statement complete astatine nan pro-criminal" Democrats.