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SACROMENTO – Despite objections from California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Democratic state lawmakers on Thursday approved a change to the bill that removed more severe penalties for soliciting 16 or 17-year-olds for sex on Thursday.
The controversial action came after a heated debate on the floor of Congress. With literal finger pointing and screaming, Republicans accused Democrats of sex offenders and Republicans of flapping up politics. After days of criticism, Democrats have pledged to continue working on the issue this year.
“That’s crazy. Why? Someone on this floor, give us an example. Please tell us one reason why we should handle it. [16- and 17-year-olds] different. Republican minority leader James Gallagher (R-Yuba City) said Thursday.
Current law allows minors under the age of 16 to be punished as a misdemeanor or felony for the first offence and as a felony for subsequent offences.
The bill, AB 379, contained provisions extending the same penalty for suspects recruiting 16 and 17 years olds. On Thursday, the Democratic-led Congress approved an amendment adopted by the committee earlier in the week that removed the provision. Democrats also added language to the bill. He said it was the Congress’ “intent” to enhance protections for older teens. The amendment also removed the name of Maggie Cler (D-Sacramento), the original author of the bill. The proposed law remains pending in Congress.
Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Hollister) did not speak during the discussion, but distributed a statement threw his “full support” behind the revision.
This marks the second year in a row when Congressional Democrats refused to extend felony charges to recruit teens. The efforts to scrap the provisions to strengthen penalties have attracted drastic criticism from the governor and social media. Newsom said this week that the law should deal with all sexual predators that invite minors and all sexual predators that should be tempted.
“What a sad situation that Governor Gavin Newsom has to be the voice of reason,” council member Josh Hoover (R-Folsom) said Thursday morning.
Congressional members and public safety committee chair Nick Schultz (D. Barbank) pointed to concerns that the use of intensifying punishment could be used to target children with LGBT or interracial relationships that families disapprove, but it was unclear how those cases would be seen. Schultz has pledged to continue working to adopt more severe penalties this year.
Staff writer Taryn Luna contributed to this report.
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