(Sacramento) - Assemblymember Sandré R. Swanson's (D-Oakland) landmark legislation to decriminalize sexually exploited youth garnered strong bi-partisan support on the Assembly floor today, clearing the full Assembly on a 66-0 vote.  AB499 will provide a vital safety net for children under 18 who have been forced into prostitution, child pornography, or human trafficking. 

“I am very pleased and thankful that the Assembly has recognized the enormous challenge we face in addressing the increasing number of sexually exploited minors.  AB 499 brings true reform to the way we approach, define and treat young people who have been exploited," Mr. Swanson stated.
 
Assemblymember Todd Spitzer, Mr. Swanson’s Republican colleague, spoke eloquently in support of AB 499.  “This legislation affects both male and female victims.  I think Alameda County’s actions are exemplary for stepping up and requesting this program on their own, especially given our current budget crisis. Their ability to create a model for prosecutors and others is something that will benefit the entire state.” He concluded by noting that if nothing is done to help these minors, they will become a state problem within our criminal justice system, and possibly our next AIDS or hospice patients, as their self-destructive behavior has not been addressed. 

Under current law, sexually exploited minors (SEMs) are arrested and processed through the criminal justice system. However, these youth do not receive the services necessary to protect them from harm.  As a result, many repeatedly fall victim to the same predators upon release. 

Sharmin Bock, Alameda County District Attorney in charge of Human Exploitation and Trafficking (HEAT) cases, stated "By treating sexually exploited minors as victims instead of as criminals, this legislation takes Oakland one step closer towards combating one of the most serious epidemics threatening our youth -- the sale of children for sex.
Specifically, AB499 will:

• Increase coordination between local government, law enforcement agencies, and child advocates, by establishing a program of supervision (informal court probation) for SEMs accused of prostitution offenses.
• Create a pilot program in the County of Alameda to implement a standardized training curriculum on the sexual exploitation of minors.
• Require that the training curriculum be established and made available to local law enforcement and criminal justice agencies.

Gary Thompson, Director of Interagency Children’s Policy Council, and a member of the Sexually Exploited Minor’s Network of Alameda County stated, “This bill brings attention to one of the most serious issues impacting youth in Alameda County: the commercial sexual exploitation of children. Moreover, understanding the diverse needs of these children is essential to developing, implementing, and sustaining a comprehensive and effective service response. The passage of AB 499 is a major step towards educating both the public and private systems’ stakeholders within our County. I personally look forward to advancing this work and garnering further support from our legislative allies.”

The bill also emphasize that sexual predators and other criminal organizations profiting from such exploitation are no longer invisible to prosecution.  “By properly treating these children as victims, law enforcement and prosecutors can better focus their efforts on bringing those individuals who engage child prostitution and other forms of human trafficking to justice,” Swanson noted.

AB 499 now moves to the Senate, where it is expected to be taken up by the Public Safety Committee.