SACRAMENTO – In a stunning display of disregard for the safety and well-being of our communities and children, the Assembly Public Safety Committee has once again failed to prioritize justice and protect the most vulnerable among us. Today, they shamefully voted against making the heinous act of sex trafficking a minor a serious felony.
“The Assembly Public Safety Committee’s decision is a shocking betrayal of our commitment to protect the innocent and hold criminals accountable,” said Assemblywoman Megan Dahle, co-author of SB 14. “We must send a clear message that the exploitation of minors will not be tolerated in California, and that the legislature values the safety of our children.”
Assemblywoman Dahle is a proud co-author of SB 14 alongside Senator Grove, a bill that garnered unanimous bipartisan support on the Senate Floor and in the Senate Appropriations and Public Safety committees. SB 14 aimed to tackle the urgent issue of human trafficking by proposing to elevate the offense to the level it truly deserves—a serious felony. Earlier this year, Assembly Republicans held a powerful press conference where brave survivors of human trafficking and community organizations voiced their resolute support for this crucial bill.
Yet, once again, Capitol Democrats on the Assembly Public Safety Committee have chosen to align themselves with the
most depraved and vicious criminals, effectively turning their backs on the innocent victims whose lives have been forever shattered. This alarming decision follows a disturbing pattern, as the committee previously killed several bills that sought to combat the fentanyl crisis wreaking havoc on our communities and posing a grave threat to our children. It is abundantly clear that Californians deserve better.
Assemblywoman Megan Dahle represents the 1st Assembly District in the California Legislature, which includes portions of El Dorado and Placer counties, along with Alpine, Amador, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, and Siskiyou counties.
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