California lawmakers on Friday approved a bill that would crack down on child prostitution and allow prosecutors to charge felony offenses against anyone who purchases sexual acts from a minor.

author Senate Bill 1414Sen. Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield) said the bill corrects a flawed provision in current law that limits soliciting sex acts from a minor to a misdemeanor. Trafficking a child for the purposes of prostitution is already a felony, but this bill ends that cycle by allowing those who purchase sex acts from minors to be charged with a felony, Grove said.

“I proudly support this bill because those who commit this heinous crime must be held accountable for forever scarring children's lives,” Rep. Joe Paterson (R-Rocklin) said during lengthy and emotional testimony by lawmakers Friday night.

The bill now goes to Governor Gavin Newsom for consideration.

“We know how horrific child sex trafficking is. The unimaginable pain, suffering and grief caused by these callous acts leaves victims mentally and physically scarred for life, even if they are lucky enough to survive,” Grove said during a Senate committee hearing in April. “We've all focused on the traffickers themselves and the cruelty of selling children, and unfortunately, not enough on the buyers. We know how supply and demand work. For a child to be sold for sex, there must be someone willing to buy that child for sex.”

Prosecutors say they have multiple avenues for prosecuting people for purchasing sex acts from children, including minors under the age of 14, as well as child sexual abuse, rape and attempted child sexual abuse. But legal experts say child trafficking is nearly “unchecked” in California, and most of those convicted are eligible for commutations to reduce their sentences, meaning they would face less than full prison time.

The bill states that if the victim is under 16 years old, the person will be charged with wobbler. This means that for a first offense, the person will be charged with a misdemeanor or felony, which can be punished with 16 months to up to three years in county jail and a fine of more than $10,000. For a second offense, the person will be charged with a felony, which can be punished with up to three years in county jail. Anyone over 18 years old who has one previous conviction for soliciting a minor will be required to be added to the sex offender registry if they are at least 10 years older than the victim.

Last year, Grove introduced a revised version of the bill that targeted child traffickers. prostitution. The Democratic-controlled Legislature had previously fought for a less punitive law, but the bill initially failed to pass. But Gov. Gavin Newsom stepped in and called for a second vote in the Assembly's Public Safety Committee. The committee eventually reversed course and passed the bill. At least two child trafficking cases have been prosecuted in Monterey and Sacramento counties since the bill passed, according to Grove's office.