• The California State Assembly’s Public Safety Committee weakened AB 379, removing a provision that would have made it a felony to pay for sex with 16- and 17-year-olds. Prosecutors must now prove the minor was trafficked before imposing stricter penalties.
• The bill aimed to close gaps in SB 1414 (which targets buyers of minors under 16) by extending felony penalties to solicitation of all minors under 18 and creating a loitering crime to curb demand. It also proposed a $1,000 fine to fund survivor support services.
• Sponsor Assemblymember Maggy Krell (a former trafficking prosecutor) and Republicans condemned the amendments, calling them a failure to protect teens. Krell vowed to reintroduce the measure, stating the changes prioritize offenders over victims.
• California Republicans accused Democrats of shielding predators, with Assemblyman David Tangipa arguing the amendments effectively normalize the exploitation of older minors.
• The revised bill raises the burden of proof for prosecutors, requiring evidence of trafficking for 16- and 17-year-olds, a standard critics argue will hinder accountability for buyers.

California lawmakers have blocked a bill that would strengthen penalties for those who pay for sex with 16- and 17-year-olds.

AB 379, introduced by Democratic Assemblymember Maggy Krell, seeks to increase penalties for offenders while expanding support for survivors. The bill builds on the recent passage of Senate Bill 1414, a law that toughened punishments for soliciting minors under 16 for sex. (Related: 122 Individuals arrested, 2 minors rescued in Sacramento County anti-sex trafficking sting operation.)

The bill would make two major changes to existing legislation – enhancing criminal penalties and establishing a survivor support fund.

First, AB 379 would make it a felony to solicit sex with anyone under 18, closing a gap in SB 1414, which currently only applies to minors 15 and younger. It also creates a new crime for loitering with the intent to solicit prostitution, allowing law enforcement to target those driving the demand. Then, a $1,000 mandatory fine for offenders would fund community-based organizations that assist trafficking survivors, prioritizing long-term rehabilitation over incarceration for those exploited in the trade.

But on Tuesday, April 29, the California State Assembly’s Public Safety Committee stripped the bill of charging a felony for those who pay for sex with 16- and 17-year-olds, requiring prosecutors to instead prove that the minors were victims of human trafficking before imposing tougher penalties on their buyers.

Krell and state Republicans criticize the decision

The decision has immediately drawn sharp criticism from Krell and state Republicans.

Krell, a former prosecutor who spent two decades handling human trafficking cases, blasted the decision as a “disgrace,” vowing to reintroduce the measure in future sessions.

“In order to get a hearing on the bill, we were forced to remove the piece of the bill that ensures the crime of purchasing a minor for sex applies in all cases where the victim is under the age of 18,” Krell said. “I wholeheartedly disagree with that amendment. This has been my life’s work and I will continue to partner with sex trafficking survivors and law enforcement to ensure all minors are protected from the horrors of sex trafficking.”

Meanwhile, California Republicans accused Democrats of prioritizing the interests of sex buyers over child victims.

“Why are some @AssemblyDems planning to cut felony charges for adults who buy 16- and 17-year-olds for sex?” California Assembly Republicans posted on their official account on X. “There are no excuses. Protect the kids. Not the predators.”

State Assemblyman David Tangipa, a Republican, whose family has been personally affected by trafficking, blasted the amendment as effectively enabling exploitation. “Apparently, what they want to do is remove the 16 and 17-year-old portion of the bill and then just increase penalties and fines,” Tangipa said. “What that actually sounds like is just California participating in the prostitution and the trafficking themselves.”

Visit Trafficking.news for more stories like this.

Watch this clip of a sheriff disclosing that 100,000 children are either with child traffickers or stuck in child abuse situations.

This video is from the Be Children of Light channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Ex-Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Michael Jeffries ARRESTED on sex trafficking and prostitution charges.

Trump says Kamala is “facilitating the largest wave of child sex trafficking in history.”

Twitter defends its child sex trafficking users, cites Section 230 immunity protection for pedophiles.

Massive child sex trafficking ring busted, ran for decades, protected by police in exchange for sex.

Former Disney animator sentenced to 25 years behind bars for sex trafficking and child sex abuse.

Sources include:

NYPost.com

KCRA.com

MSN.com

Bighteon.com