CALIFORNIANS, TAKE ACTION: Click here to find contact information for your Assemblymember and let them know IMMEDIATELY that you want them to vote yes on SB14 to protect our children.
As we reported Wednesday afternoon, California Governor (and likely Democrat presidential candidate) Gavin Newsom was not at all happy with Democrats in the Assembly Public Safety Committee, who refused to vote on a bill that would add human trafficking of a minor to the state’s list of “serious felonies,” meaning, generally, that there are enhanced penalties and that those convicted of the offense will not be released early from prison.
The bill, SB 14, sponsored by state Sen. Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield), unanimously passed the California State Senate in April (yes, even Sen. Scott Wiener voted for it), but without garnering enough “yes” votes in the Assembly Public Safety Committee to pass to the full Assembly, the bill died after its hearing Tuesday.
Or did it?
A flurry of activity occurred Wednesday, starting with cryptic remarks from Newsom in which he said he’d been in touch with Sen. Grove about the bill and wanted to see what he could do, followed by comments from Asm. Speaker Robert Rivas, who likewise indicated that he’d spoken to Grove and that reporters should keep an eye on the bill. Rivas also stated that he had some concerns about how the bill was handled in committee. Then, it was announced that Assembly Public Safety Committee chair Asm. Reggie Jones-Sawyer would meet with Grove Wednesday afternoon regarding the bill.
Grove held a brief press conference after the meeting, saying that it was a productive meeting and that nothing was decided, but made it clear that she is seeking a rules waiver to allow the bill – with no amendments – to be voted on by the full Assembly. Assembly Republicans confirmed that they will attempt to force a floor vote. Given Speaker Rivas’ comments earlier Wednesday, it’s likely that the bill will receive a floor vote.
Activist Denise Aguilar, cofounder of Freedom Angels and a former gang member who’s now, in her own words, “just a chola holding the line to protect children,” gave an excellent rundown of the events of the last 48 hours.
As Aguilar says, the Democrats on the Public Safety Committee are hardcore no bail, no jail activists who feel that the current penalties for human trafficking are stiff enough. Here is the current punishment for child sex trafficking in California:
(c) A person who causes, induces, or persuades, or attempts to cause, induce, or persuade, a person who is a minor at the time of commission of the offense to engage in a commercial sex act, with the intent to effect or maintain a violation of Section 266, 266h, 266i, 266j, 267, 311.1, 311.2, 311.3, 311.4, 311.5, 311.6, or 518 is guilty of human trafficking. A violation of this subdivision is punishable by imprisonment in the state prison as follows:
(1) Five, 8, or 12 years and a fine of not more than five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000).
(2) Fifteen years to life and a fine of not more than five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) when the offense involves force, fear, fraud, deceit, coercion, violence, duress, menace, or threat of unlawful injury to the victim or to another person.
However, those penalties are assuming that the person is convicted of the original crime charged and not pled down to a lower charge. And, the conviction does not count as a “strike” under California’s “Three Strikes” law. If human trafficking of a minor is listed as a serious felony, District Attorneys cannot engage in plea bargaining except in certain extremely limited circumstances, and the conviction counts as a strike. (The ways in which SB 14 would increase penalties for offenders are outlined in this fact sheet posted at Sen. Grove’s website.)
When you understand that Jones-Sawyer and committee members Isaac Bryan and Miguel Santiago are all from Los Angeles County and full-throated supporters of George Gascon, it makes a lot more sense.
Just two years ago, in 2020, Assembly Democrats had a different view of human trafficking.
What happened?
Actually, it doesn’t really matter what happened. What’s important right now is ensuring that California Assemblymembers hear from as many constituents as possible before they go into session at 9 AM Thursday morning. Find your legislator here and let them know that you expect them to vote to protect ALL children.