California Assembly Democrats have amended a bill, AB 379, to impose stricter penalties for adults soliciting 16- and 17-year-olds for sex, allowing felony charges if the adult is over three years older than the minor. This decision followed criticism from Republicans and a comment from Gov. Gavin Newsom urging felony charges for solicitors. The new version also includes a grant program for prosecutors and a fund for survivors, funded by fines on businesses related to human trafficking. The bill is still being considered in the Assembly.
I'm looking at this from a prosecutor's standpoint - this bill strengthens California law and gives us the felony hammer to prosecute the creeps that are preying on teenagers.
The new amendments to the legislation, AB 379, would allow prosecutors to file felony charges against adults who solicit sex from a 16- or 17-year-old.
Current law allows the offense of soliciting a minor under 16 for sex to be punishable as a misdemeanor or a felony on the first offense.
Democrats defended the amendment despite comments from Newsom, who said that anyone who solicits a minor should be charged with a felony.
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