Napa, CA — A California bill aimed at criminalizing the solicitation of minors for sex has faced significant opposition in the state legislature, despite strong backing from prominent figures such as Governor Gavin Newsom and Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis.
Assembly Bill 379, introduced by Assemblywoman Maggy Krell (D-Sacramento) and State Senator Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield), sought to close a loophole in existing laws by making it a felony to pay for sex with minors under the age of 18. The bill was initially designed to fix a controversial provision in Senate Bill 1414, which, passed last year, excluded minors aged 16 and 17 from certain felony charges related to prostitution.
Though the bill garnered support from both sides of the political spectrum, including from law enforcement and child protection advocates, it was dramatically altered in committee. On April 30, Democratic members of the Assembly’s Public Safety Committee voted to remove the provision that would have made it a felony to purchase sex from any minor under 18. This change came after a series of behind-the-scenes negotiations and pressure from within the Democratic caucus.
Assembly Public Safety Chairman Nick Schultz (D-Burbank), who presided over the committee’s decision, announced that he would instead hold informational hearings on the issue later this year, opting to delay action rather than move forward with the bill in its current form. His decision to strip the felony provision sparked outrage from both Krell and other supporters of the bill, who viewed it as a step backward in the fight against the exploitation of minors.
“The current system allows adults to exploit children for sex with little consequence,” said Krell, who emphasized that the bill’s original intent was to protect vulnerable minors from sexual exploitation. “We cannot allow the loopholes in the law to continue. This bill is about ensuring that all children, regardless of age, are protected.”
The bill’s near-collapse prompted a wave of national backlash, especially after the California Department of Justice released new data showing that sex trafficking of minors in the state has become an escalating problem. Supporters of AB 379 argued that the loophole created by SB 1414 has made California a hotspot for sex trafficking operations targeting 16- and 17-year-olds, with minors often coerced or manipulated into prostitution.
In an attempt to restore the provision, Republicans proposed a “hostile” amendment during the committee hearing, which would reinstate the felony charge for purchasing sex from minors. Krell, who endorsed the amendment, said she did not view the move as “hostile” and expressed her intent to vote in favor of it.
The debate over AB 379 also led to a heated exchange between Assemblymembers Mark Gonzalez (D-Los Angeles) and Carl DeMaio (R-San Diego), both of whom hold strong, differing views on sex work and the role of LGBTQ advocacy in anti-trafficking measures.
DeMaio, a gay Republican, strongly criticized SB 357, a 2023 law that decriminalized loitering for the purpose of prostitution. DeMaio argued that the law inadvertently exacerbated the problem of sex trafficking, especially in marginalized communities, by legalizing behavior that makes individuals, particularly minors, more vulnerable to exploitation.
“What’s offensive is when you stand on this floor and call yourself gay, but yet you vote down the same civil rights for gay people every single day,” Gonzalez responded, accusing DeMaio of undermining the fight for the protection of minors under the guise of LGBTQ rights.
The broader debate centered on balancing civil liberties, criminal justice reform, and child protection, with many Democrats expressing concerns that laws targeting sex work disproportionately harm LGBTQ individuals and people of color. At the same time, many Republicans argued that the decriminalization of prostitution-related offenses is contributing to the exploitation of children.
One of the loudest voices in the discussion has been Sacramento Sheriff Jim Cooper, who previously served as a Democratic Assemblyman. Cooper has consistently highlighted the grave threat posed by sex trafficking in California, citing the high volume of cases his department handles, including numerous instances involving the trafficking of minors.
“In my agency, we currently have 17 open cases of juveniles being trafficked for sex. This year, we have already rescued seven juveniles from the sex trade,” Cooper said in a statement. “The Legislature made a decision today that the exploitation of these children is acceptable collateral damage. It’s a decision that will have long-lasting consequences for these vulnerable kids.”
Despite the ongoing debate, the future of AB 379 remains uncertain. With the bill now facing delays and weakened provisions, child protection advocates are left wondering whether meaningful progress can be made on a policy that could help prevent the sexual exploitation of minors in California.
As the state legislature prepares for more discussions in the coming months, the fate of AB 379 hangs in the balance, with stakeholders from all sides of the issue eagerly awaiting the outcome.