Senator Fights to Make Buying a Minor for Sex a Crime, No Exceptions

This Thursday, the Assembly Appropriations Committee will make crucial decisions on numerous bills, but none is more important than SB 1414. Originally introduced by Senator Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield), this bill sought to make soliciting a minor for sex a felony, punishable by 2, 3, or 4 years in prison and a fine of up to $25,000. Additionally, it would require anyone convicted of this heinous crime to register as a sex offender, ensuring that these predators are caught and can’t harm more children.

The erosion of SB 1414 protection

However, when SB 1414 made its way through the Senate and Assembly Public Safety Committees, it was significantly weakened. In the amended version of the bill, the increased penalties would only apply to minors who are 16 or 17 if the prosecutor can prove they are victims of human trafficking, which is often difficult to do. The bill was also amended to allow first-time offenders whose victims were under 16 to be charged with a felony punishable by as little as one year in prison or a misdemeanor punishable by 16 months to 3 years. However, the prison sentence would have to be served in the county jail, not the state prison.

Even more troubling is the change regarding sex offender registration. Under the current amendments, an adult would only have to register as a sex offender after a second conviction, and only if there is a more than ten-year age difference between the offender and the victim. This means that a first-time offender could escape sex offender registration altogether, even if he or she abused a vulnerable child.

California’s Fight Against Human Trafficking

At California Family Council, we believe these changes do not adequately protect our children. We stand with Senator Grove and urge the Legislature to restore SB 1414 to its original form, which provided stronger protections for all minors.

“Every child, regardless of age, deserves to be protected from being purchased by adults,” said Greg Burt, Vice President of the California Family Council. “The Legislature must take a strong stand against child sexual exploitation and restore SB 1414 to its original version. Anything less sends the message that some children deserve less protection.”

The reality is that California continues to be a hub for human trafficking, consistently ranking number one in cases reported to the National Human Trafficking Hotline. Human trafficking is one of the fastest growing criminal enterprises in the world, generating an estimated $150 billion annually. This modern-day slavery profits from the exploitation of our most vulnerable populations: our children. There is no such thing as a minor having consensual sex with an adult; these children are being exploited, abused, and trafficked.

SB 1414, in its original form, would have given a stronger voice to children who have endured this horrific abuse. By treating the purchase of a child for sex with the seriousness it deserves, our laws would better reflect the gravity of this crime. However, with the current amendments, the bill falls short of providing the protections needed for all minors.

Let’s not settle for a watered-down version of this crucial legislation. Our children deserve better.

A call to action:

Ask members to support SB 1414 and return the bill to its original version.

• Contact the members of the Budget Committee: Click here to see their numbers
• Please contact the meeting chair, Robert Rivas: (916) 319-2029
• Contact the President of the Senate, Senator pro tempore Mike McGuire: (916) 651-4002