Democrats have decided to reverse course and fold on not bringing harsher penalties against people who solicit older teens for sex.
Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D–Hollister) and Assembly Public Safety Chairman Nick Schultz announced the backtrack on Tuesday.
The backstory: Asm. Maggy Krell (D–Sacramento) introduced Assembly Bill 379, which, in part, made it a felony to purchase 16- and 17-year-olds for sex.
- Last week Democrats forced an amendment on the bill to remove the felony punishment for soliciting an older teen, and lawmakers also took the bill out of Krell’s hands and gave it to Schultz.
- Democrats then passed the amendment in the Assembly, which stated that it is the Legislature’s “intent” to protect 16- and 17-year-olds. The amendment did not actually put anything into state law to punish people who solicit older teens.
The big picture: Democratic leaders in the Assembly negotiated with Krell to come to an agreement to put the provision to protect older teens back into the bill.
- Not everyone who solicits a 16- or 17-year-old for sex will be hit with a felony, however. The updated bill would not charge someone with a felony for purchasing an older teen if they are within three years of the victim’s age.
What they’re saying: “I’m looking at this from a prosecutor’s standpoint – this bill strengthens California law and gives us the felony hammer to prosecute the creeps that are preying on teenagers,” Krell said in a statement. “I appreciate everyone’s work on this bill, especially the survivors who won’t give up.”
- Schultz added, “Human trafficking and child exploitation are serious problems in California deserving of tough and nuanced legislative solutions. This is a bill we can all be proud of, and I look forward to closely working together with all of our co-authors to deliver a safer California for everyone, especially our children.”
What we’re watching: The Assembly Public Safety Committee will consider the updated bill on Wednesday.
- If it passes through the Assembly, AB 379 would still need to gain approval from the Senate, which is far from guaranteed.
War of ads: While Democrats faced significant public outcry over the last week for their refusal to increase penalties on those who prey on older teens, the California Democratic Party ran misleading ads online attacking Republicans for not protecting older teens.
- Republicans voted against the amendment last week, while Democrats were the ones who shot down the 16- and 17-year-old felony provision.
- On Wednesday, Republicans ran their own ads going after Democrats for not protecting older teens. One of their targets was Asm. Esmeralda Soria (D–Fresno), who sided with other Democrats last week to not make it a felony to purchase 16- and 17-year-olds for sex even though she was a co-author on AB 379.
