A California bill aiming to protect children from sexual predators recently passed the state Assembly floor.
State Assembly Bill 1874 would raise the punishment for those who record minors in full or partial undress.
Under current law, such offenders upon second violation are sentenced to imprisonment for up to one year or a fine not exceeding $2,000.
The bill would allow judges to charge such repeat offenders with a felony, with additional options for punishment including increased imprisonment up to three years, according to a May 20 Assembly floor analysis.
Assemblymember Kate Sanchez introduced the bill in January. It will now be assigned to a Senate committee or committees to be heard and, if passed, there, will be considered by the full Senate.
“Once signed into law, this bill will help discourage the recording of minors in intimate settings and remove convicted individuals who commit this dangerous act,” Ms. Sanchez said in a May 22 statement. “We must do everything we can to protect our children.”
The bill was sponsored by Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes, who affirmed his department’s commitment to remain “tenacious in our work to apprehend offenders who target children.”
“This proposed bill will ensure such offenders face meaningful consequences,” the sheriff said in the same statement.
