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The fight against child sex trafficking is getting help from the Central Valley

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – Tougher penalties for those involved in child trafficking have been signed into law, an initiative that began in the Central Valley.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Central Valley state Sen. Shannon Grove's bill, SB 1414, into law on Thursday. Not only does it increase penalties for some forms of child trafficking, it also supports victims and survivors.

“My team and everyone we fight so hard is because we have heard the stories of parents, of child trafficking survivors who are now adults, and of adults recently rescued from human trafficking. And it’s terrible,” said Senator Shannon Grove.

The bill makes it a felony in the state of California to purchase and solicit a minor 15 years of age and younger.

Republican Senator Grove approved the bill, which was originally intended to apply to all sex trafficking victims under the age of 18. But Democrats amended the bill to require 16- and 17-year-olds to first prove in court that they were victims of sex trafficking, and only then could the alleged sex buyer be charged with a crime.

“We need to start doing really important things to change the way offenders are treated in this state,” said Senator Grove.

Debra Rush is a human trafficking survivor, co-founder and CEO of the nonprofit Breaking the Chains, which works to combat human trafficking in the Central Valley.

She is affected on every level by the pain she leaves behind. In April, her own daughter died when she was shot in Los Angeles, an area that police say has a long history of human trafficking.

'She was my baby': Fresno woman's mother killed in Los Angeles

Rush was unable to speak to our station but provided the following statement in part:

Passage of the bill will help deter the demand that drives these heinous crimes and we hope it will bring us closer to a safer future for our youth. As we celebrate this victory, we are also deeply disappointed that 16 and 17 year olds are excluded from the same level of protection and justice.

Debra Rush, co-founder and CEO of Breaking the Chains

Senator Grove adds: The fight doesn't stop here.

“I am truly grateful that the bill was signed and published. But we won't stop fighting. We will move forward,” said Senator Grove.

The bill comes into force in the new year.

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