California State Assemblyman Juan Alanis issued a statement on May 7 on the restoration of protections for 16 and 17-year-olds to Assembly 379.
AB 379 was originally authored by Sacramento Democratic Assemblymember Maggie Krell. The bill’s idea was to make it an automatic felony to purchase and solicit and minor under the age of 18 for sex.
After the change in Assembly democratic leadership, the bill raised some concerns, arguing it could lead to unintended consequences, specifically jail time for 16 and 17-year-old trafficking victims and punishment for other young adults taking part in consensual sexual activity with them.
Alanis said, “Every child deserves to be shielded from the horrors of sexual exploitation. The overwhelming majority of Californians understand that 16 and 17-year-olds are minors and not adults.”
Read more at: California bill advances with new protections for minors in sex cases | FOX40 News
