California lawmakers weaken proposed punishment for teen sex solicitation

California lawmakers in the Assembly Public Safety Committee blocked an effort that would have made soliciting 16 and 17-year-olds for sex a felony. Former prosecutor and current Democratic Assemblymember Maggy Krell proposed Assembly Bill 379, saying perpetrators who sell or buy children for sex deserve harsher punishment.

Last year, the Golden State passed a measure making it a felony to purchase children 15 and younger for sex. That law went into effect in January.