Fight against child sex trafficking gets help from the Central Valley
FRESNO, Calif. ( KSEE/KGPE ) — Heavier penalties for those taking part in child sex trafficking have been signed into law, an effort which began in the Central Valley.
Governor Gavin Newsom signed Central Valley State Senator Shannon Grove's Bill SB 1414 into law on Thursday. As well as increasing penalties for some forms child sex trafficking, it also supports victims and survivors.
"My team and everybody we fight so hard is because we've heard the stories from parents, from child trafficking survivors that are now adults and from adults that are, that were just recently rescued from human trafficking. And it's horrific," Senator Shannon Grove said.
The bill will make it a felony in the state of California to purchase and solicit a minor aged 15 and younger.
Republican Senator Grove authorized the bill, originally writing it to apply to any sex trafficking victim younger than 18-years-old. But Democrats amended the bill, requiring 16 and 17-year-olds to first prove in court they are victims of sex trafficking, and only then could the alleged sex purchaser be charged with a felony.
"We've got to start doing significant, significant stuff to change the way that perpetrators are treated in this state," Senator Grove said.
Debra Rush is a survivor of human trafficking, a co-founder and CEO of the non-profit organization 'Breaking the Chains' which works to combat human trafficking in the Central Valley.
She has been impacted by the pain trafficking leaves at every level. In April, her own daughter lost her life when she was shot in Los Angeles – in an area police say has a long history of human trafficking.
'She was my baby': Mom of Fresno woman killed in Los Angeles
Rush was unable to speak with our station, but issued the following statement reading in part:
Senator Grove adds-the fight doesn't stop here.
"I'm really grateful that the bill got signed and got out. But we're not going to stop fighting. We're going to keep going," Senator Grove said.
The bill will go into effect in the new year.
