California’s Child Sex Trafficking Bill in Limbo Again, Supporters Outraged After Fiscal Hearing

A bipartisan bill targeting child sex traffickers in California was again in limbo Aug. 16, sparking outrage among supporters—after it was revived from death by lawmakers under public pressure a month ago.

The California State Capitol building in Sacramento, Calif., on April 18, 2022. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times

A widely supported bipartisan California bill that would strengthen penalties for child sex traffickers was again in limbo after an Aug. 16 state Assembly Appropriations Committee hearing.

Senate Bill 14—authored by Sen. Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield), sponsored and co-authored by 60 lawmakers, and targeting those convicted of repeatedly sexually trafficking children—was placed on the suspense file by the 16-member committee awaiting further consideration, which supporters of the bill say is an indirect way to kill it.

“As a proud co-author of SB 14 and the mother of a 10 year old child, it is both terrifying and unacceptable that we are not able to vote on this straightforward bill,” Assemblywoman and Appropriations Committee member Kate Sanchez (R-Rancho Santa Margarita) told The Epoch Times by email on Aug. 17. “Currently in the state of California, trafficking a minor for sex is not considered a serious felony.”