{"id":273725,"date":"2024-05-24T23:55:13","date_gmt":"2024-05-25T06:55:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/timesofsandiego.com\/?p=273725"},"modified":"2024-05-25T06:21:35","modified_gmt":"2024-05-25T13:21:35","slug":"watered-down-bill-to-make-prostitution-of-a-minor-a-felony-passes-36-0-in-state-senate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timesofsandiego.com\/politics\/2024\/05\/24\/watered-down-bill-to-make-prostitution-of-a-minor-a-felony-passes-36-0-in-state-senate\/","title":{"rendered":"Watered-Down Bill to Make Prostitution of a Minor a Felony Passes 36-0 in State Senate"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Flags<\/a>
Flags over the California Capitol in Sacramento. Courtesy of Sen. Toni Atkins’ office<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

State Sen. Shannon\u00a0Grove\u2019s<\/a>\u00a0bill to make prostitution of a minor a felony passed the state Senate on a vote of 36-0, but with amendments that weakened protections for teens aged 16 to 17 and gave judges sentencing discretion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe crime of purchasing a child, of any age, for sex in the state of California should be a prison felony,” said Grove, a Republican from Bakersfield. “I am incredibly disappointed in the Senate Pro Tem and Senate leadership for, once again, passing on an opportunity to restore amendments to the bill and stand up for all of California\u2019s children.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We must restore this bill in the Assembly to protect every child in the state of California from the horrific crime of sex trafficking,\u201d\u00a0she said.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prior to the floor vote on Thursday, the Public Safety Committee made amendments to Senate Bill 1414<\/a>\u00a0that in Grove’s view significantly weakened the legislation. Those changes were:<\/p>\n\n\n\n