The first time a person solicits sex from someone under 16, the offense would be a “wobbler,” meaning prosecutors could charge it as a misdemeanor or a felony. The second offense would be a “straight felony” punishable by jail time, Skinner said.

Sex offender registration would be mandatory for repeat offenders.

“The problem with how it’s constructed now is it is not designed solely and only to get those persons who are being sex trafficked,” Skinner said. “Additionally, it goes after individuals who have not ... actually engaged in in any way.”

Other lawmakers agreed, saying Grove’s version of the bill was too broad.

“This bill will send people to state prison, put people in the sex offender registry — which is basically, effectively, in many ways, the end of their life for people — whether or not they’re engaged in human trafficking,” said Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco.

Grove said she accepted two amendments: one removing the strict liability portion and one specifying only repeat child sex solicitors would need to register as sex offenders.

But she took the other amendments as an insult and offensive to the survivors who came to support her bill. She was especially distraught about the change applying increased penalties only to situations involving minors under 16.

Grove was so upset about the changes she said she might remove her name from SB 1414. She said the amended measure now says, “16, 17-year-olds don’t matter.”

“They hijacked my bill,” Grove said. “They turned it into something that was palatable to them.”

Bill opposition

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