Sacramento Assemblyman signals changes likely coming to bill targeting child sex trafficking customers

Sacramento Assemblyman and leader of the Assembly's Public Safety Committee, Kevin McCarty, told KCRA 3 on Friday he has concerns with a proposal that excludes 16 and 17-year-olds from being considered minors in a bill that targets customers of the child sex trafficking industry. The bill, SB 1414, was written by Republican State Senator Shannon Grove originally to make the solicitation or purchase of a minor for commercial sex a felony in California. It's currently a misdemeanor. Earlier this year, the Senate Public Safety Committee added what are being called "hostile amendments" to the bill, meaning the group changed the proposal against Grove's will to only enhance the penalties for those who purchase children 15 and under.