After initially blocking a bill in California that aimed to classify child sex trafficking as a serious felony, the state’s Assembly Public Safety Committee was compelled to convene a special hearing and reconsider the legislation. Ultimately, the bill was successfully passed with a 6-0 vote, with two Democrats abstaining from voting.
Following public and Democratic state leader backlash, including criticism from Governor Gavin Newsom, the Democratic-led committee and Assembly have taken action to rectify their earlier decision. They faced considerable scrutiny for halting a measure designed to prevent the early release of repeat child sex traffickers. This particular bill, which has already received unanimous approval from the California Senate with strong bipartisan support, is currently midway through the legislative process.