Republican state Sen. Shannon Grove, center, speaks to reporters in in July about her bill to increase penalties on child traffickers. (Adam Beam / Associated Press)
The landscape of the lopsidedly Democratic California Legislature underwent an astonishing transformation during this year’s session, culminating in a most unusual unanimous victory for the Republican party. This exceptional GOP triumph was spearheaded by the determined Sen. Shannon Grove, a steadfast conservative hailing from Bakersfield. Her cause, unequivocally just, resonated even with liberal legislators whose ideological leanings were ostensibly at odds with her proposed legislation.
Grove’s mission was to secure lengthier prison sentences for individuals involved in child sex trafficking. Her bill, SB 14, sought to classify the exploitation of minors under 18 as a “serious” offense. It appeared to be an indisputable stance, and the Senate concurred, passing the bill with an unopposed 40-0 vote, absent any deliberation, just prior to the Memorial Day weekend.
However, herein lay the crux of the matter. Labeling child sex trafficking as a serious felony subjected repeat offenders to California’s “three-strikes” law, a legislative pillar that progressive factions had fervently attempted to dismantle. The law entailed life sentences and the perennial issue of overcrowded prisons, making it an anathema to certain political quarters.
Subsequently, in July, Grove’s bill encountered an impasse in the Assembly Public Safety Committee, presided over by Assemblymember Reginald Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles). This committee had a long-standing reputation as the burial ground for bills advocating stiffer sentences.
The issue gained wider attention, thanks to media coverage, and the public was stirred to action. Interventions from two influential Democrats, Governor Gavin Newsom and the newly appointed Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Hollister), breathed new life into the legislation. It was resurrected after initially being shelved.
Finally, on September 11, SB 14 was brought before the Assembly floor, securing unanimous approval with an 80-0 vote. However, this endorsement was achieved only after Republicans seized the opportunity to showcase their support, emphasizing that they were making a stand on a pressing issue.
The episode underscored that criminal offenses often went unpunished, an argument echoing in the words of Republican Leader James Gallagher of Yuba City, who highlighted the urgent need for action. Assemblyman Bill Essayli of Corona, another Republican, contended that enhanced sentences for sex traffickers contradicted the liberals’ agenda of reducing prison populations.
Meanwhile, Democratic Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi of Rolling Hills Estates, a former prosecutor, urged his party colleagues to strike a balance. He emphasized the importance of investing in programs related to mental health and education while also ensuring that the most heinous offenders were incarcerated.
The Senate later concurred with Assembly amendments designed to protect trafficked victims from being targeted by prosecutors, allaying liberal concerns. Consequently, the bill was forwarded to Governor Newsom, securing unanimous support in both houses.
This triumph proved significant, not only for Senator Grove and the Republican party but also for two Democrats: the rookie speaker and the nationally ambitious governor. However, Governor Newsom’s most significant victory came with the bipartisan passage of crucial mental health legislation and funding reform on the eve of the legislative adjournment. This marked yet another attempt, albeit one that has met with limited success, to address California’s persistent homelessness crisis, which has deep-rooted connections to the closure of state mental health hospitals over five decades ago.
The legislative package comprised three bills, with Senator Susan Talamantes Eggman (D-Stockton) leading the charge. One of these bills, SB 43, aimed to simplify the process of detaining homeless individuals with severe substance abuse and mental disorders for mandatory treatment. Another, SB 326, proposed redirecting $1 billion annually from the “millionaires’ tax” to establish new mental health housing and treatment facilities, potentially benefiting 10,000 individuals grappling with severe behavioral health or substance abuse issues. Voter approval in the upcoming presidential primary will be required to reallocate the millionaires’ tax funds and authorize a $6.4-billion bond issue for constructing the new facilities.
However, the session’s most prominent victor was the labor sector, currently one of the most influential special interests in California’s state Capitol. Labor secured a series of legislative victories, including increased paid sick leave for employees, minimum wage hikes for healthcare and fast-food workers, and the right for legislative staffers to unionize. Notably, the legislation allowing striking workers to collect state unemployment insurance after a two-week period stirred considerable debate. Critics argued that unemployment insurance was not designed to support employed individuals during strikes. Nevertheless, the bill was passed along party lines, albeit with Governor Newsom expressing fiscal concerns given the state’s existing unemployment insurance debt.
In contrast, the child sex trafficking bill required no caution, only an unwavering commitment to ensuring that those responsible for such reprehensible acts face severe and enduring consequences.
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