Sacramento, California —
To the dismay of the bill’s author, proposed legislation intended to impose stiffer penalties on those who seek sex with minors underwent revisions this week.
Senate Bill 1414, proposed by Bakersfield senator Shannon Grove (R), would criminalize asking a minor to have sex. A person found guilty of paying for sex with a juvenile risks a misdemeanor, which carries a maximum sentence of one year in county jail and a fine of up to $10,000. However, as of right now, the legislation stipulates that a person may only spend two days in jail.
Grove’s bill would classify soliciting minors as felonies. She wants it to cover anyone who approaches someone under the age of 18 for sex, but Democratic senators amended it this spring to only include those under the age of 15, claiming it was otherwise unduly broad.
Grove informed the Assembly Public Safety Committee on Tuesday, “As you know, I introduced Senate Bill 1414 with the intent of making solicitation or purchase of minors for sex a prison felony.”
Image – Los Angeles Times
The committee is presided over by Assemblyman Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento). Together, he and the Senate counterpart’s chair, Sen. Aisha Wahab (D-Silicon Valley), arrived at what they see as a compromise between the Senate revisions and Grove’s initial measure this week.
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During the hearing on Tuesday, McCarty informed Grove, “This is a business where you don’t always get everything you want.”
An amendment was made, which stated that if prosecutors could demonstrate that older minors, who are 16 or 17 years old, were being trafficked, then soliciting sex with them would be considered a criminal.
McCarty stated, “The prosecution is the one who has to prove it; the individual doesn’t.” “They have the option to charge this individual with this new offense, which could be up to a felony on the first offense.”
Although Grove maintains that the original language of her bill is still appropriate, the revision made it possible for the bill to move out of committee.
“I simply want them to be inclusive: a 16-year-old, a 15-year-old, and a 17-year-old.” “I want it to be inclusive for everyone,” she declared. “However, despite my best efforts, we are unable to reach that location.”
A supporter of Grove’s initial bill sobbed while pleading with committee members.
They sobbed and declared, “Today, I stand as one, but I come in the name of thousands who have been abused.” “Please, put an end to the issue that is taking lives.”
Next month, the Assembly Appropriations Committee will consider SB 1414.
