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SACRAMENTO, Calif. (TND) — The California Department of Finance on Wednesday pushed back against a bill that would increase punishments for soliciting a minor for sex in the state.
SB 1414 would allow the state to charge adults who solicited minors with either a felony or a misdemeanor. If the involved minor was younger than 16, or younger than 18 but a victim of human trafficking, the adult would face up to three years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Millie Yan, a finance department official, said during a state Assembly committee hearing that the agency opposes the legislation because of the potential costs the California Department of Corrections would have to deal with.
“The annual costs associated with increasing the prison population by one individual can range from around $10,000 to the high tens of thousands of dollars, depending on various factors,” Yan said.
California has saved hundreds of millions of dollars each year by closing prisons, according to the official. She added that the state has successfully tried to stay under its prison population cap, which sits at 137.5% of a facility’s designed capacity.
However, increases to the population threaten the state’s ability to continue making progress in rightsizing California’s prison system,” Yan said. “The state strives to have a balanced system that preserves public safety while remaining fiscally responsible.”
The bill would also require adults convicted multiple times of soliciting a minor at least 10 years younger than them to register each year as a sex offender. Yan suggested that provision would contribute to higher costs for the state as well.
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“We also note that similar legislation that expands the list of individuals required to register as sex offenders has estimated to result in costs to the Department of Justice in the hundreds of thousands of dollars,” she said.
State Sen. Shannon Grove, R-Bakersfield, the bill’s primary sponsor, dismissed concerns of potential costs, arguing they pale in comparison to the impact that soliciting minors can have on the victims.
“While I understand the primary focus of this committee is to evaluate the fiscal impact of SB 1414, I want to make it very clear that there is no price tag that can be placed on victims of sex trafficking, especially children,” she said. “Buying a child for sex is a crime so grotesque, immoral and barbaric it should be prevented and stopped at any cost.”
Have questions, concerns or tips? Send them to Ray at [email protected].
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