CA lawmakers backtrack after 'stubborn and misguided' blocking of child sex trafficking penalty bill

As they had previously threatened, California Republicans successfully forced a Democratic-led committee of the state's assembly to advance a bill that would classify child sex trafficking as a serious felony in an emergency session Thursday. The assembly's Public Safety Committee held a special hearing where the measure, previously blocked, then passed 6-0.

The years-long legislative effort already passed unanimously in the Democratic-majority state Senate earlier in 2023, but was blocked Tuesday when all six Democrats on the Assembly committee abstained from voting, reasoning that the bill still required "considerable work."

Lawmakers faced harsh criticism after the initial vote as shouts of "You're horrible!" and "You should be ashamed of yourselves" were audible from the gallery as some onlookers sobbed.

Republican lawmakers in the Assembly next tried to force a floor vote on the measure. Democrats parried, threatening that if the bill were to come directly to the floor, it may not get full funding.

Ultimately, four of the six Democrats voted for the bill Thursday, leaving only two to abstain.

The bill in question is SB14, authored by Republican state Sen. Shannon Grove. It would amend a prior law to specify that trafficking a minor is a "serious felony" in California — a state with a "three strikes law." Anyone in California convicted of at least three serious felonies is punished by a sentence of 25 years to life in prison.

Grove said she was "profoundly disappointed" at the outcome of Tuesday's vote and blamed Democrats for "their stubborn and misguided objection to any penalty increase regardless of how heinous the crime."

Many who opposed the bill say that increased penalties for child traffickers would not make a meaningful difference to the underlying problem. Although "three strikes laws" often have broad bipartisan support, studies have shown that adopting such statutes does not necessarily reduce crime. Further, the laws have been linked to aggravating racial disparities in sentencing.

Democratic state leaders said they would work together with the bill's proponents and slated SB14 for reconsideration.

Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer (D), the committee's chair, explained the Public Safety Committee's reasoning for voting against the bill in a statement Tuesday:

The Three Strikes model of sentencing is ineffective in preventing crime and protecting the public's safety. We will not build on a deeply flawed sentencing system that unfairly punishes disadvantaged communities. SB 14 makes no new corrective actions or enhancements to laws already in place. Ultimately, members of the Assembly's Public Safety Committee understood the author's intent but recognized this bill needs considerable work and granted reconsideration.

Jones-Sawyer and Grove have since met to discuss the bill, with Grove telling reporters that she felt optimistic that the bill could eventually move forward.

"I think the meeting was very productive, there was nothing decided at that meeting, we laid out the situation, I really do feel it was productive, we're still waiting for results," Grove said, according to Sacramento NBC affiliate KCRA.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) said in a press briefing that he was "surprised" by the bill having been stalled and said he had spoken with Grove and promised to work to "see what we can do" to come to an agreement.

Editor's Note: This piece was updated from its original version to reflect the results of the emergency hearing held Thursday.