SACRAMENTO, CA (KMJ) – SB14, a bill to increase the penalty for child sex trafficking is moving forward after a vote Friday in Sacramento.
The amended version of Senate Bill 14, made it through the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
SB14 would lengthen prison terms for people convicted of child sex trafficking, and shield victims from prosecution.
Bakersfield Republican Senator Shannon Grove is the author, explaining the importance of the bill to KMJ’s Broeske and Musson Show.
Grove says SB 14 has had strong bipartisan support, and protecting victims of child sex trafficking should not be a partisan issue.
I want to thank the Assembly Appropriations Committee members who stood today in defense of the victims of child sex trafficking and voted to let SB 14 out of committee. The amendment affirms what is already in statute to ensure victims of human trafficking are protected. This bill has strong bipartisan support with 64 coauthors from both parties and both houses. Protecting victims of child sex trafficking should not be a partisan issue. Today is a victory for every survivor. I am confident most members of the Assembly want to vote for this bill, and thanks to today’s vote they will have a chance. However, the fight to make the human trafficking of a child a serious felony is not yet finished and I urge every Californian to stay engaged until the bill is signed into law.”
–Senator Shannon Grove
Senate Bill 14 now heads to the Assembly floor to be heard by the full Assembly sometime before the legislature adjourns on September 14.
Listen to the report by KMJ’s Liz Kern.
