Senate Appropriations committee advances AB 379; dozens of other bills moved to suspense

The California Senate Committee on Appropriations on Oct. 26 voted to give Assembly Bill 379 (Schultz) a due‑pass recommendation to the Senate floor, while moving dozens of other measures to the committee’s suspense file without objection.

AB 379: the committee advanced the bill that would increase criminal penalties tied to solicitation of minors and create a survivor support fund. Assemblymember Schultz, an author on the measure, summarized the proposal during the hearing: “AB 379 would authorize felony punishment for the solicitation of any minor by an adult more than 3 years of age than the minor, as well as a misdemeanor treatment for loitering with intent to purchase commercial [sex],” and added that the bill “provides critical new tools for prosecutors, establishes a survivor support fund to aid victims and includes tougher penalties for those who deliberately look the other way on trafficking.”

Supporters included law‑enforcement groups and local officials who said the bill balances prosecution and victim services. Chief Jason Salazar, president of the California Police…