Executive Summary
- Assembly Bill 379 reclassifies soliciting sex from 16- and 17-year-olds as a felony in California.
- The law creates a Survivor Support Fund financed by fines levied against offenders to assist trafficking victims.
- New provisions criminalize loitering with the intent to purchase commercial sex, responding to previous legislative repeals.
- San Diego officials state the law shifts liability to buyers and businesses rather than exploited individuals.
California law enforcement agencies and state legislators have announced the enactment of Assembly Bill 379, a new statute taking effect Thursday that classifies the solicitation of sex from 16- and 17-year-olds as a felony offense. The legislation marks a significant shift in state law, which previously limited minor status protections in felony sex trafficking cases to children aged 15 and younger.
According to San Diego leaders who gathered Wednesday to discuss the implementation, the bill is designed to shift criminal liability from exploited individuals to those purchasing commercial sex. Assemblywoman Maggy Krell, D-Sacramento, co-authored the legislation, which also criminalizes loitering in public places with the intent to purchase sex. Additionally, the law increases civil penalties for businesses involved in sex trafficking operations.
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria stated that the bill provides the city with “stronger, smarter tools” to address human trafficking by holding buyers accountable. “This law reflects our commitment to public safety, neighborhood quality of life, and human dignity,” Gloria said during a press conference regarding the bill’s imminent enforcement.
San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan emphasized the necessity of the age expansion in the legal code. Stephan noted that under the new law, buying children who cannot legally consent to sex is treated with the gravity of slavery. “I fought for 10 years to make sure that those who buy children for sex are held fully accountable under the law and finally that time is here with AB 379,” Stephan told reporters.
The legislation also establishes a Survivor Support Fund. This initiative will be financed through fees and fines paid by offenders and will issue grants to community-based organizations providing direct outreach and services to victims of exploitation. San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond commented earlier this year that the bill focuses rightful scrutiny on traffickers and buyers rather than the individuals caught in exploitation.
San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl indicated that AB 379 serves as a corrective measure following the 2022 repeal of Senate Bill 357, which had decriminalized loitering with intent to commit prostitution. Wahl stated that past legislation had limited law enforcement’s ability to intervene, but the new tools provided by AB 379 would allow officers to better protect victims, particularly minors.
Legislative Impact and Enforcement Outlook
The enactment of Assembly Bill 379 represents a strategic pivot in California’s approach to combating sex trafficking, explicitly targeting the demand side of the illicit market while closing a critical age gap in legal protections for minors. By restoring specific enforcement powers regarding loitering with intent to purchase, the state is attempting to reverse the perceived enforcement vacuum created by previous deregulatory measures. As police departments integrate these new felony classifications into their operational protocols, the focus will likely shift toward sting operations targeting solicitors to populate the newly created Survivor Support Fund. As these new felony statutes are enforced, the judicial system will ensure that constitutional due process rights are maintained for all defendants facing charges under the expanded legal framework.
