Following public pressure and the urging of California Governor Gavin Newsom (D), the state legislature has revived a bill that would classify the trafficking of a minor as a serious felony in California.
The bill, known as SB 14, was initially introduced by California Republican state Sen. Shannon Grove and other Republicans in December 2022.
Under the proposed law, the trafficking of a minor would be considered a serious felony. In California, individuals convicted of three serious or violent felonies are subject to the state's "three strikes" law, which mandates a minimum sentence of 25 years to life in prison.
Earlier this week, the bill was held up in the Assembly Public Safety Committee, with six Democrats abstaining and only two Republicans voting in favor of advancing the bill. Democratic Senators Liz Ortega and Bryan Isaac expressed opposition to the bill, advocating for a more holistic approach to addressing the issue.
Ortega emphasized the need for solutions beyond incarceration, stating, "Sending someone to prison for the rest of their lives is not going to fix the harm moving forward." She highlighted the importance of addressing issues such as jobs and mental health to tackle the problem effectively.
In response to the bill's failure to pass, Governor Newsom, aligning with Republican lawmakers, expressed his concern and commitment to addressing trafficking, stating, "I want to understand exactly what happened yesterday...I take it very seriously." He took action to bring the bill back to the Committee floor.
The decision of the Assembly Public Safety Committee faced backlash from the public, prompting the California Assembly Democrats Twitter account to post a thread explaining their stance. The thread emphasized the goal of preventing crimes and protecting sex trafficking victims, particularly children.
It also criticized the three-strike model, arguing that it disproportionately affects Black, Indigenous, and People of Color communities. The thread was later deleted.
In a last-minute hearing on Thursday, the bill was successfully brought back to the Committee floor and passed. This development marks a significant step in addressing the issue of trafficking in California and ensuring the protection of minors from exploitation.
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