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California's legislative battle has intensified as far-left 'social justice' groups stand in opposition to a bill aimed at strengthening penalties for buying or soliciting a child for sex.
Under current state law, such an act is merely a misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in county jail, a minimum of two days in jail, and a possible fine of $10,000. Additionally, offenders are required to register as tier-one sex offenders for at least ten years.
Republican State Senator Shannon Grove is leading the effort with SB 1414 to downgrade the crime to a felony.
Senate Bill 1414 (SB 1414) was introduced last month to increase penalties for child sex trafficking. The bill would make soliciting or engaging in commercial sex with a minor a felony and could punish offenders with two to four years in prison and a fine of up to $25,000.
Sen. Grove's inspiration stems from conversations with survivors of sex trafficking, who emphasize the need to target buyers to effectively deal with the issue.
“A lot of people with lived experience have said you have to go after the buyer, it's just a misdemeanor and I said no way,” Grove told KCRA 3. “I thought they were wrong.”
The proposed bill also aims to eliminate the requirement that those convicted must know or should know the age of the minor. Additionally, it seeks to extend the sex offender registration requirement for buyers to ten years.
Groves is already facing resistance from fellow lawmakers concerned about increasing prison sentences. The Senate Public Safety Committee analysis reveals clear opposition from criminal justice reform groups such as Californians for Safety and Justice, the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, and the California Public Defenders Association.
According to KCRA 3, this is not the first time that a bill of this nature has been brought to the state Capitol; Similar efforts since 2014 have faltered.
The Senate Public Safety Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on the bill Tuesday, with Grove looking to capitalize on the momentum of last year's successful bipartisan bill that would have classified child sex trafficking as a felony under California's Three Strikes law. Is.