California Assembly Democrats approve changes to sex trafficking bill

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – Assembly Democrats have approved new changes to a bill that would make it a felony to purchase sex from a minor.

The decision comes after weeks of conversations within the Democratic Party on whether or not 16-year-olds and 17-year-olds should be included in the protections.

The changes to Assembly Bill 379 basically return the bill to the way it was originally written, making it a felony for an adult to purchase sex from a child.

Assembly leaders did make one exception for offenders who are less than three years older than the minor. Instead, they would be charged with a misdemeanor.

“It’s about time this shouldn’t be an issue,” said Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp.

She slammed the Assembly Democratic Leadership on Tuesday for delaying a deal making it a felony to buy sex from a child.

Last week, Assembly Democrats forced amendments on the bill excluding 16 and 17-year-olds, but ultimately backtracked on most of those changes Tuesday, after criticism from both sides of the aisle and the governor.

“It has become one of the most lucrative crimes, the criminals and gang members engage in is completely unacceptable,” Smittcamp said.

Now, under this current version of the bill, any adult who buys sex from a child will be charged with a felony. However, there is an exception: Offenders who are less than three years older than the minor could be charged with a misdemeanor instead.

This amendment comes after Democrats raised concerns that the bill could target teenagers who pay each other for sex.

“There could be a situation in which there’s an 18-year-old and 17-year-old that are in high school together. There is a wide range of conduct that prosecutors should be able to use their ability for discretion,” said Democratic Assembly member Asha Kalra.

Now that a deal is nearly done, both sides are claiming victory, but Republicans say it took way longer than it should.

“It was insanity to us that we had to go through this rigorous debate to protect just to let people to know that all minors should be protected,” said assembly member David Tangipa.

The bill just passed the appropriations committee and could be voted on by the entire assembly as early as Thursday.