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Appropriations committee advances AB 379 to Senate floor after debate on trafficking, immigration impacts
Summary
The California State Senate Committee on Appropriations voted 6-0 to send Assembly Bill 379 to the Senate floor after testimony from law enforcement, survivor advocates and immigrant-rights groups raised competing fiscal and immigration concerns.
The California State Senate Committee on Appropriations on Wednesday advanced Assembly Bill 379, a measure that would increase criminal penalties for adults who solicit minors and create a survivor support fund, by a 6-0 voice vote to send the bill to the Senate floor.
AB 379, authored by Assembly Member Schultz, would authorize felony punishment for solicitation of a minor by an adult more than three years older than the minor and would expand misdemeanor penalties for loitering with intent to purchase commercial sex. The bill also creates provisions the author describes as funding and tools for prosecutors and a dedicated fund to support survivors.
Supporters told the committee the changes aim to strengthen prosecution of human trafficking and provide services to victims. Chief Jason Salazar, president of the California Police Chiefs Association, said the bill “understands this balance built with equal parts targeting enforcement and prosecution alongside funding services for victims” and urged an aye vote.
“...it is not our intent or our goal to criminalize the victims in these cases, but to rely on the laws and tools to leverage treatment and services for each individual in need,” Chief Salazar told the committee.
Opponents, including immigration and sex‑worker advocacy groups, said the measure’s criminal provisions are broad and risk increasing immigration enforcement actions, detention and family separation. Anne Block, senior staff attorney with the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, told the committee, “The ILRC respectfully opposes AB 379 because the bill would subject more people to traumatic ICE arrest, detention, and deportation.”
Other opponents — including survivor‑led organizations and outreach groups — warned that criminalization could push survivors away from services and cited fiscal pressures from increased incarceration, court costs and immigration consequences. A participant identifying as a current sex worker questioned the constitutionality of a loitering provision and urged further drafting.
The Department of Finance reported no file on the measure at the hearing. The bill’s author acknowledged there would be fiscal costs for detection, enforcement and sentencing but argued those costs should be weighed against the harms of trafficking.
The committee recorded a motion to “due pass to the Senate floor.” The roll was called and recorded ayes from Caballero, Sarto, Cabaldon, Grayson, Richardson and Wahab; the motion carried with six ayes and no recorded no votes.
AB 379 will proceed to the full Senate for further consideration. The committee’s action was limited to a fiscal hearing; several witnesses were asked to restrict testimony to fiscal impacts and the committee did not take action on any amendments during the hearing.
