SAN DIEGO — Soliciting a child for sex is a misdemeanor in California, with a maximum sentence of one year in jail. A new bill looks to change that to a felony, with harsher punishments.
SB 1414 pushes for harsher punishments against people who solicit sex from minors. It's moving forward but with some changes.
The original bill looked to make buying sex with a minor a felony. Offenders would have faced up to four years in prison, register as a sex offender and pay a $25,000 fine. On Tuesday, parts of the bill were weakened after going to the Senate Public Safety Committee.
"They didn't let us know they were going to hijack the bill and insert these horrific amendments," said Senator Shannon Grove, who wrote the bill.
Grove says she's disappointed by the new changes.
"Number one they excluded 16 and 17-year-olds. They're still misdemeanors. Put a big target on their back," she said.
Some opponents worried the bill could punish young adults in consensual relationships with minors. Solicitation of 16 or 17-year-olds will remain a misdemeanor under the new amendments.
"We are ensuring that we are protecting seniors and juniors in high school that still need to understand this is not allowed," said Aisha Wahab, chair of the Senate Public Safety Committee.
Last year, California passed SB 14 that reclassified sex trafficking minors as a serious felony. Meanwhile this new bill looks to punish the buyers.
"I wanna make it clear this bill is about solicitation, not human trafficking. The crime in this bill is about solicitation which is words only, not committing the actual act," Wahab said.
Next the bill will go to the Senate Appropriations Committee.
"We are going to work very hard to get teeth back in this bill. We are just going to continue to fight for these kids," Grove said.
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