Human trafficking is still not “serious” in California

(7/14 — see update at end of post)

Two months ago, I reported that a bill to make human trafficking a “serious felony” in California, and thus apply the state’s recidivism laws to people who commit it, was watered down in the Senate Public Safety Committee to apply only to trafficking of minors. A majority of that committee apparently believes that actual slavery of adults in the 21st century is not serious enough to apply the same laws that apply to robbery and home burglary.

Well, that wasn’t watered down enough for the Democrats on the Assembly Public Safety Committee, Katy Grimes reports in the California Globe.

Senate Bill 14 by Senator Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield) was voted down in the Assembly Public Safety Committee with 6 Democrats abstaining and 2 Republicans voting “aye”… that means Democrats wouldn’t even commit to a “no” vote lest it look bad during reelection time.

SB 14 would have included sex trafficking of minors in the lists of crimes that are defined as serious under California law, making the crime a strike under the Three Strikes law, and would help strengthen protections for the millions of victims of sex trafficking.

So holding a child prisoner and forcing her into prostitution is still not “serious” in California. Will the gutless committee members not “look bad” during next year’s election because they abstained rather than voted no? There is no difference under the California Legislature’s voting rules. Passage requires a “yes” vote of a majority of the members, so not voting is voting “no” in practice. It may not matter, though, because the Democratic Party leadership regularly staffs the committees with members from “safe” districts.

For the record, the abstainers are:

Reginald Jones-Sawyer (Chair), south LA

Mia Bonta, Oakland

Isaac Bryan (Majority Leader), Culver City

Liz Ortega, Hayward

Miguel Santiago, north and east LA

Rick Zbur, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica

Voting Yes on the bill were the two Republican members:

Juan Alanis (Vice Chair), Modesto, Turlock

Tom Lackey, Lancaster, Barstow, Apple Valley

Update, July 14

Later yesterday, the committee voted again on SB 14, and this time four of the previously abstaining members voted in favor, passing the bill out of the Public Safety Committee. But it is not out of the woods yet. Bill author Sen. Shannon Grove has this press release on her website.

“Democrats on the Assembly Public Safety Committee today reconsidered the merits of Senate Bill 14 and voted to let it out of committee. This is a bill with strong bipartisan support, and protecting victims of child sex trafficking should not be a partisan issue. Today is a victory for every survivor. However, the battle is not over—SB 14 must still go through the Assembly Appropriations Committee when legislators return from Summer recess. I believe most Assembly Democrats want to vote for this bill if they are given a chance, and I am hopeful we can succeed in the Assembly Appropriations Committee. I urge every Californian to stay engaged until the bill is signed into law.”

Assembly Members Bryan and Bonta abstained again, effectively voting for people who enslave children and force them into prostitution.