Assembly Republicans are set to introduce amendments intending to reestablish felony-level penalties for individuals attempting to buy sex from minors aged 16 and 17. These penalties were removed by Assembly Democrats on the Public Safety Committee without an explicit reason.
Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher commented on the changes, stating, “It is absolutely shameful that radical Democrats allowed this to happen. There is nothing ‘nuanced’ about adults buying children for sex. There is nothing ‘informational’ about protecting predators while kids are being trafficked. They stripped felony protections from the bill, and now they want to host a hearing in L.A. months from now?”
The forthcoming amendments seek to restore provisions originally present in AB 379, introduced by Assemblymember Krell, which had previously seen bipartisan support. The Democratic members’ decision to eliminate these measures sparked criticism, though they have suggested future plans to “gather information” during an upcoming hearing in Los Angeles.
In response to these plans, Assembly Public Safety Chair Nick Schultz released a statement, saying, “We invite [the governor] to join us in LA later this year for an informational hearing on the topic… Information gathering is an important part of the job of every elected official.”
Gallagher countered, emphasizing the urgency of the matter: “No more delays. No more dodges. The information is clear, the evidence is overwhelming, and the predators are out there right now. We don’t need more informational hearings to hold predators accountable. What Assembly Democrats need isn’t more information, it’s a moral compass.”
The amendments are intended to push Assembly Democrats to clarify their stance on the issue, compelling them to choose between siding with victims or those exploiting minors.
