SACRAMENTO — Today, California Republican Party Chairwoman Jessica Millan Patterson released the following statement regarding Assembly Democrats’ refusal to support Senator Shannon Grove’s Senate Bill 14 on the Assembly Floor, which would make trafficking a minor a serious felony: 

“Punting Senate Bill 14 back to the Public Safety Committee that just two days ago voted to kill this critical legislation is not something to celebrate. These delays were avoidable, and the only ones who benefit from Assembly Democrats’ repeated inaction are human traffickers. I am deeply grateful for Senator Shannon Grove and Assembly Republicans’ relentless push for SB14 in order to protect our most vulnerable. Without their persistence, Democrats’ attempts to kill this bill would have succeeded and delivered a major victory to human traffickers. This fight for our children is not over, and California Republicans will continue to lead the charge.” — CAGOP Chairwoman Jessica Millan Patterson