State Senator Shannon Grove achieved a major legislative win on Thursday, September 26, 2024, when Gov. Gavin Newsom signed her proposed bill, Senate Bill 1414, into law. This legislation aims to significantly increase penalties for those caught soliciting or purchasing minors for sex in California.
This success builds on Grove’s previous effort, Senate Bill 14, which was signed into law in 2023 and also addressed child sex trafficking by increasing penalties for traffickers. Like its predecessor, SB 1414 received bipartisan support and backing from advocacy groups, as well as Governor Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom.
In a public statement, Grove emphasized that SB 1414 is part of the state’s ongoing commitment to protecting vulnerable children, saying, “Criminals have been far ahead of us when it comes to child sex trafficking. We must have a strong approach to eradicate this brutal crime and ensure no child is reduced to a commodity.”
Set to take effect on January 1, 2025, the new law will make soliciting or purchasing a child for sex a felony rather than a misdemeanor. For 16- and 17-year-olds, it requires proof that they are victims of human trafficking.
Additionally, SB 1414 expands the list of convicted individuals who must register as sex offenders.
This bill is one of four laws signed by the governor on Thursday, all aimed at protecting victims of human trafficking. These include Senate Bill 963, which requires hospitals to implement confidential policies for identifying trafficking victims, Assembly Bill 2020, mandating law enforcement agencies to establish guidelines for interacting with survivors, and Assembly Bill 1888, which creates a new unit within the state Department of Justice to focus on labor trafficking investigations.
Governor Newsom condemned human trafficking as a “disgusting and reprehensible crime” that leaves lasting scars, while Jennifer Siebel Newsom stressed the importance of protecting society’s most vulnerable.
Ashlie Bryant, CEO of 3Strands Global Foundation, a key advocacy group involved with Grove’s bill, hailed the legislation as a major step forward. “SB 1414 represents real progress in protecting our children and ensuring that those who seek to exploit them face the full force of the law,” Bryant said.
With this new law, California is taking stronger measures to combat child sex trafficking and protect the safety of its youngest citizens.
