Sen. Grove's Human Trafficking Bill Moves to Assembly Committee

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — A bill from Republican state Sen. Shannon Grove of Bakersfield to toughen penalties for adults who purchase children for sex has moved forward in the legislature, but not as she hoped.

The Assembly Public Safety Committee officially voted this week in favor of SB 14-14, which if passed would make it a felony to purchase minors 15 and under for sexual purposes.

But Grove said she was frustrated because when she introduced the bill earlier this year, it targeted adults who sex traffic all minors, including those 16 and 17.

This week, the Democratic Public Safety Caucus chairmen added amendments to the bill that would require 16- and 17-year-olds to first prove in court that they are victims of sex trafficking. Only then could the buyer of sex be charged with a crime.

“It shouldn’t be this hard to pass a bill that protects children from those who want to buy them and buy them for sex. It should be a no-brainer. If a grown man buys children for sex, he should go to jail,” said Sen. Shannon Grove (R) of Bakersfield.

Democrats say the changes they added to the bill will continue to protect 16- and 17-year-olds and make it easier to move the bill to the governor's desk.

Bill SB14-14 will be referred to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.