Gov. Newsom signs bill to classify child sex trafficking as a serious felony in California

SAFETY ADVOCATES WILL ALSO JOIN THE GOVERNOR. AND TONIGHT, THE GOVERNOR SIGNED TWO HIGH PROFILE BILLS INTO LAW. ONE MAKES CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING A SERIOUS FELONY. YEAH, THE GOVERNOR SIGNED THAT BILL SURROUNDED BY LAWMAKERS AND VICTIMS OF SEX TRAFFICKING. HIS OFFICE SHARED THIS PHOTO. NOW, THIS LAW MAKES CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING A STRIKING OFFENSE IN THE STATE, MEANING REPEAT OFFENDERS COULD FACE MORE TIME IN PRISON AND POTENTIALLY LIFE IN PRISON. THE LAW TAKES EFFECT AT THE START OF NEXT YEAR. THE BILL’S AUTHOR AND PROSECUTORS SAY THE LAW PUTS CRIMINALS ON NOTICE. TODAY, WE’RE SENDING A CLEAR MESSAGE TO THE PERPETRATORS OF SELLING CHILDREN FOR SEX THAT YOU WILL GO TO PRISON AND YOU WILL SERVE A LONGER LENGTH OF TIME. SO THAT WE CAN KEEP YOU AWAY FROM OUR CHILDREN. NOW, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT STATE LAWMAKERS HAVE ADDED A CRIME TO THE STATE’S THREE STRIKES LAW. IT IMPOSES 25 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR THOSE WITH PRIOR CONVICTIONS OF VIOLENT OR SERIOUS FELONIES. A NEW LAW THAT PROHIBITS THIS BOOK BANNING IN CALIFORNIA SCHOOLS, IS IN PLACE TONIGHT. THE GOVERNOR APPROVED THE LAW THIS EVENING, AND IT TOOK EFFECT IMMEDIATELY. IT PROHIBITS SCHOOLS FROM BANNING BOOKS BASED ON RACE AND GENDER DESTROY SITES THAT REFUSE TO USE TEXTBOOKS OR LIBRARY BOOKS THAT DISCUSS THOSE TOPICS COULD FACE FINES. THE FINE WOULD BE BASED ON MONEY. THE STATE EARMARKS FOR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS. SOME REPUBLICANS SAY THE LAW TAKES CONTROL AWAY FROM LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS TONIGHT, GOVERNOR NEWSOM SAYS THIS LAW PUTS A STOP TO WHAT HE CALLS A BANNING BINGE. REMARKABLE THAT WE’RE LIVING IN A COUNTRY RIGHT NOW AND THIS BANNING BINGE, THIS CULTURAL PURGE THAT WE’RE EXPERIENCING ALL THROUGHOUT AMERICA AND NOW INCREASINGLY HERE IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, WHERE WE HAVE SCHOOL DISTRICTS LARGE AND SMALL, BANNING BOOKS, BANNING FREE SPEECH, CRIMINALIZING LIBRARIANS AND TEACHERS AND WE WANT TO DO MORE THAN JUST PUSH BACK RHETORIC AGAINST THAT. CALIF FORNIA IS THE SECOND STATE TO APPROVE A BAN ON BOOK BANS. ILLINOIS PASSED

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday announced he signed a bill that will classify child sex trafficking as a serious felony in California.Classifying child sex trafficking as a serious felony under California law makes it a strikable offense, meaning repeat offenders or those who have committed other serious felonies could face more time behind bars, including life in prison.The new law, which will go into effect at the start of next year, marks the first time ever the California Legislature has added a crime to its "three strikes" law, which imposes 25 years to life in prison for those who have prior convictions of violent or serious felonies. Legislative experts said the only other changes made to the three strikes law have been technical or through voter initiatives."Human trafficking is a sick crime," Newsom said in a statement Monday night. "With this new law, California is going further to protect kids. I’m grateful for the leadership of Senator Grove, Speaker Rivas, and Pro Tem Atkins in spearheading this bipartisan effort to make our communities and children safer." The bill's author, Republican State Sen. Shannon Grove, said the purpose of the measure is to prevent repeat child sex traffickers from being released from prison early. Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have noted there have been several previous attempts to do the same over the years that were unsuccessful.In a statement Monday, Grove said in part, "With the passage of this bill, we are sending a clear message to child traffickers— we intend to put you out of business and behind bars where you belong." The bill earlier this year unanimously passed the state Senate but gained national attention after having a rocky start when it reached the Assembly. Lawmakers in the Assembly Public Safety Committee were forced to reverse their decision to block the bill after facing intense backlash from the public and some Democratic state leaders, including Newsom.Lawmakers made small changes to the bill earlier this month to ensure victims, who are sometimes forced to help traffickers, are not ensnared in prosecution.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday announced he signed a bill that will classify child sex trafficking as a serious felony in California.

Classifying child sex trafficking as a serious felony under California law makes it a strikable offense, meaning repeat offenders or those who have committed other serious felonies could face more time behind bars, including life in prison.

The new law, which will go into effect at the start of next year, marks the first time ever the California Legislature has added a crime to its "three strikes" law, which imposes 25 years to life in prison for those who have prior convictions of violent or serious felonies. Legislative experts said the only other changes made to the three strikes law have been technical or through voter initiatives.

"Human trafficking is a sick crime," Newsom said in a statement Monday night. "With this new law, California is going further to protect kids. I’m grateful for the leadership of Senator Grove, Speaker Rivas, and Pro Tem Atkins in spearheading this bipartisan effort to make our communities and children safer."

The bill's author, Republican State Sen. Shannon Grove, said the purpose of the measure is to prevent repeat child sex traffickers from being released from prison early. Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have noted there have been several previous attempts to do the same over the years that were unsuccessful.

In a statement Monday, Grove said in part, "With the passage of this bill, we are sending a clear message to child traffickers— we intend to put you out of business and behind bars where you belong."

The bill earlier this year unanimously passed the state Senate but gained national attention after having a rocky start when it reached the Assembly. Lawmakers in the Assembly Public Safety Committee were forced to reverse their decision to block the bill after facing intense backlash from the public and some Democratic state leaders, including Newsom.

Lawmakers made small changes to the bill earlier this month to ensure victims, who are sometimes forced to help traffickers, are not ensnared in prosecution.

Gov. Newsom signs bill to classify child sex trafficking as a serious felony in California

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