SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California lawmakers in the state legislature spent hours on Thursday discussing an anti-human trafficking bill that was originally introduced to increase penalties for those who purchase a minor for sex.

Last year, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed SB 1414 into law, which increased penalties for those who purchase minors for commercial sex, but it excluded 16-and 17-year-olds.

Assemblymember Maggy Krell, a Democrat from Sacramento, introduced AB 379, the Survivor Support and Demand Reduction Act. The bill also aims to make it a crime to loiter with the intent to purchase commercial sex and it creates a fund to support human trafficking victims.

Earlier this week, Democrats in the Assembly public safety committee passed AB 379, but they forced amendments on Krell’s bill that removed the portion to make it a felony to purchase a 16 or 17-year-old for sex.

Opponents say the current laws are strong enough because you can still charge someone with a felony if there’s enough evidence that the minor is a victim of human trafficking.

Other concerns opponents had with the bill are unintended consequences for LGBTQ+ youth.

“There were a lot of youth advocates and activists who were concerned about the way that automatic felonies levied against older teens in relationships with other minors,” said Leigh LaChapelle with the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking.

On Thursday, Republicans tried to force a vote on the Assembly floor that would have restored Krell’s original bill.

The motion ultimately failed. Instead, most democrats passed a bill that states “it’s the intent of the Legislature to adopt the strongest laws to protect 16-and 17-year-old victims.”

The amended bill does not say it should be a felony to purchase a 16- or 17-year-old for sex. In the new version of the bill, Krell’s name was removed and replaced with Assemblymember Nick Schultz, who’s the chair of the Assembly public safety committee.  

“I don’t care whether my name is on the bill. What I do care about is whether California protects minors who are sold for sex,” said Krell.

Prior to joining the legislature, Krell spent two decades as a prosecutor working on sex trafficking cases.

Krell, two other democrats, and republicans voted no on the amended bill.

“Sixteen- and 17-year-olds are minors. They should be treated the same way under the law…there should not be a different standard and that’s what happened on the floor today,” said Minority Leader James Gallagher. 

Meanwhile Schultz said Thursday’s vote is a commitment to continue to work on the issue.

“We’re going to get a bill passed this year, hopefully a solution. [We’re going to get this] through the senate and onto the governor’s desk. Then we’re going to keep talking about it through the fall and we’ll see more legislation next year,” Schultz noted.

Gov. Newsom, who rarely weighs in on legislation, has signaled support for Krell’s original bill.

“The law should treat all sex predators who solicit minors the same — as a felony, regardless of the intended victim’s age. Full stop,” said the governor’s office in a statement.

The bill is now headed to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.