California Democrats Kill Bill That Aimed to Criminalize Using Children to Steal

The bill called for charges against adults who coerce or employ children to commit theft. Assembly committee members said it could be used against a hungry mom.

A series of smash-and-grab robberies left stores with boarded up windows in San Francisco on Nov. 22, 2021. Lear Zhou/The Epoch Times

SACRAMENTO—Democratic lawmakers in the California Assembly’s Public Safety Committee rejected a measure on April 23 that would make it a crime to cause a minor to commit theft.

At issue was Assembly Bill 2406, authored by Assemblywoman Laurie Davies, which would allow adults who employ or coerce a child to steal to be charged with a misdemeanor or felony, depending on the circumstances.