SB 1219: Crimes: prostitution.
- Session Year: 2023-2024
- House: Senate
- Latest Version Date: 2024-02-15
Current Status:
Failed
(2024-04-02: April 2 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.)
Introduced
In Committee
First Chamber
In Committee
Second Chamber
Enacted
Existing law, until January 1, 2023, prohibited loitering in a public place with the intent to commit prostitution, as defined, and made that crime a misdemeanor. Existing law defines specified behavior as disorderly conduct and prohibits that behavior. Under existing law, disorderly conduct includes, among other things, soliciting prostitution, prowling, peeping, surreptitious photographing or filming of an identifiable person, and the distribution of certain images of another person taken under circumstances in which the person understands that the image shall remain private, the distribution of which causes serious emotional distress.
This bill would make it a misdemeanor to loiter in a public place with the intent to commit prostitution, as defined, and would make other conforming changes. The bill would make a person guilty of disorderly conduct if they operate a motor vehicle in any public place and repeatedly beckon to, contact, or attempt to contact or stop pedestrians or other motorists, or impede traffic, with the intent to solicit prostitution. The bill would authorize a court to suspend, for not more than 30 days, the privilege of a person to operate a motor vehicle for a first conviction of these offenses. The bill would, for a 2nd or subsequent conviction, require the vehicle used in the commission of the crime to be impounded for 30 days, as specified.
By creating a new crime and expanding the scope of an existing crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
The possession of a condom is not admissible as evidence in the prosecution of a violation of Section 372 of, or subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 647 of, or former Section 653.22 of, the Penal Code, if the offense is related to prostitution.
SEC. 2.Section 647 of the Penal Code is amended to read:647.Except as provided in paragraph (5) of subdivision (b) and subdivision (k), every person who commits any of the following acts is guilty of disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor:
(a)An individual who solicits anyone to engage in or who engages in lewd or dissolute conduct in any public place or in any place open to the public or exposed to public view.
(b)(1)An individual who solicits, or who agrees to engage in, or who engages in, any act of prostitution with the intent to receive compensation, money, or anything of value from another person. An individual agrees to engage in an act of prostitution when, with specific intent to so engage, the individual manifests an acceptance of an offer or solicitation by another person to so engage, regardless of whether the offer or solicitation was made by a person who also possessed the specific intent to engage in an act of prostitution.
(2)An individual who solicits, or who agrees to engage in, or who engages in, any act of prostitution with another person who is 18 years of age or older in exchange for the individual providing compensation, money, or anything of value to the other person. An individual agrees to engage in an act of prostitution when, with specific intent to so engage, the individual manifests an acceptance of an offer or solicitation by another person who is 18 years of age or older to so engage, regardless of whether the offer or solicitation was made by a person who also possessed the specific intent to engage in an act of prostitution.
(3)An individual who solicits, or who agrees to engage in, or who engages in, any act of prostitution with another person who is a minor in exchange for the individual providing compensation, money, or anything of value to the minor. An individual agrees to engage in an act of prostitution when, with specific intent to so engage, the individual manifests an acceptance of an offer or solicitation by someone who is a minor to so engage, regardless of whether the offer or solicitation was made by a minor who also possessed the specific intent to engage in an act of prostitution.
(4)A manifestation of acceptance of an offer or solicitation to engage in an act of prostitution does not constitute a violation of this subdivision unless some act, in addition to the manifestation of acceptance, is done within this state in furtherance of the commission of the act of prostitution by the person manifesting an acceptance of an offer or solicitation to engage in that act. As used in this subdivision, prostitution includes any lewd act between persons for money or other consideration.
(5)Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) to (3), inclusive, this subdivision does not apply to a child under 18 years of age who is alleged to have engaged in conduct to receive money or other consideration that would, if committed by an adult, violate this subdivision. A commercially exploited child under this paragraph may be adjudged a dependent child of the court pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 300 of the Welfare and Institutions Code and may be taken into temporary custody pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 305 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, if the conditions allowing temporary custody without warrant are met.
(6)An individual who operates a motor vehicle in any public place and repeatedly beckons to, contacts, or attempts to contact or stop pedestrians or other motorists, or impedes traffic, with the intent to solicit prostitution.
(c)Who accosts other persons in any public place or in any place open to the public for the purpose of begging or soliciting alms.
(d)Who loiters in or about any toilet open to the public for the purpose of engaging in or soliciting any lewd or lascivious or any unlawful act.
(e)Who lodges in any building, structure, vehicle, or place, whether public or private, without the permission of the owner or person entitled to the possession or in control of it.
(f)Who is found in any public place under the influence of intoxicating liquor, any drug, controlled substance, toluene, or any combination of any intoxicating liquor, drug, controlled substance, or toluene, in a condition that they are unable to exercise care for their own safety or the safety of others, or by reason of being under the influence of intoxicating liquor, any drug, controlled substance, toluene, or any combination of any intoxicating liquor, drug, or toluene, interferes with or obstructs or prevents the free use of any street, sidewalk, or other public way.
(g)If a person has violated subdivision (f), a peace officer, if reasonably able to do so, shall place the person, or cause the person to be placed, in civil protective custody. The person shall be taken to a facility, designated pursuant to Section 5170 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, for the 72-hour treatment and evaluation of inebriates. A peace officer may place a person in civil protective custody with that kind and degree of force authorized to effect an arrest for a misdemeanor without a warrant. A person who has been placed in civil protective custody shall not thereafter be subject to any criminal prosecution or juvenile court proceeding based on the facts giving rise to this placement. This subdivision does not apply to the following persons:
(1)A person who is under the influence of any drug, or under the combined influence of intoxicating liquor and any drug.
(2)A person who a peace officer has probable cause to believe has committed any felony, or who has committed any misdemeanor in addition to subdivision (f).
(3)A person who a peace officer in good faith believes will attempt escape or will be unreasonably difficult for medical personnel to control.
(h)Who loiters, prowls, or wanders upon the private property of another, at any time, without visible or lawful business with the owner or occupant. As used in this subdivision, loiter means to delay or linger without a lawful purpose for being on the property and for the purpose of committing a crime as opportunity may be discovered.
(i)Who, while loitering, prowling, or wandering upon the private property of another, at any time, peeks in the door or window of any inhabited building or structure, without visible or lawful business with the owner or occupant.
(j)(1)A person who looks through a hole or opening, into, or otherwise views, by means of any instrumentality, including, but not limited to, a periscope, telescope, binoculars, camera, motion picture camera, camcorder, mobile phone, electronic device, or unmanned aircraft system, the interior of a bedroom, bathroom, changing room, fitting room, dressing room, or tanning booth, or the interior of any other area in which the occupant has a reasonable expectation of privacy, with the intent to invade the privacy of a person or persons inside. This subdivision does not apply to those areas of a private business used to count currency or other negotiable instruments.
(2)A person who uses a concealed camcorder, motion picture camera, or photographic camera of any type, to secretly videotape, film, photograph, or record by electronic means, another identifiable person under or through the clothing being worn by that other person, for the purpose of viewing the body of, or the undergarments worn by, that other person, without the consent or knowledge of that other person, with the intent to arouse, appeal to, or gratify the lust, passions, or sexual desires of that person and invade the privacy of that other person, under circumstances in which the other person has a reasonable expectation of privacy. For the purposes of this paragraph, identifiable means capable of identification, or capable of being recognized, meaning that someone, including the victim, could identify or recognize the victim. It does not require the victims identity to actually be established.
(3)(A)A person who uses a concealed camcorder, motion picture camera, or photographic camera of any type, to secretly videotape, film, photograph, or record by electronic means, another identifiable person who may be in a state of full or partial undress, for the purpose of viewing the body of, or the undergarments worn by, that other person, without the consent or knowledge of that other person, in the interior of a bedroom, bathroom, changing room, fitting room, dressing room, or tanning booth, or the interior of any other area in which that other person has a reasonable expectation of privacy, with the intent to invade the privacy of that other person. For the purposes of this paragraph, identifiable means capable of identification, or capable of being recognized, meaning that someone, including the victim, could identify or recognize the victim. It does not require the victims identity to actually be established.
(B)Neither of the following is a defense to the crime specified in this paragraph:
(i)The defendant was a cohabitant, landlord, tenant, cotenant, employer, employee, or business partner or associate of the victim, or an agent of any of these.
(ii)The victim was not in a state of full or partial undress.
(4)(A)A person who intentionally distributes or causes to be distributed the image of the intimate body part or parts of another identifiable person, or an image of the person depicted engaged in an act of sexual intercourse, sodomy, oral copulation, sexual penetration, or an image of masturbation by the person depicted or in which the person depicted participates, under circumstances in which the persons agree or understand that the image shall remain private, the person distributing the image knows or should know that distribution of the image will cause serious emotional distress, and the person depicted suffers that distress.
(B)(i)A person intentionally distributes an image described in subparagraph (A) when that person personally distributes the image.
(ii)A person intentionally causes an image described in subparagraph (A) to be distributed when that person arranges, specifically requests, or intentionally causes another person to distribute the image.
(C)As used in this paragraph, the following terms have the following meanings:
(i)Distribute includes exhibiting in public or giving possession.
(ii)Identifiable has the same meaning as in paragraphs (2) and (3).
(iii)Intimate body part means any portion of the genitals, the anus and, in the case of a female, also includes any portion of the breasts below the top of the areola, that is either uncovered or clearly visible through clothing.
(D)It shall not be a violation of this paragraph to distribute an image described in subparagraph (A) if any of the following applies:
(i)The distribution is made in the course of reporting an unlawful activity.
(ii)The distribution is made in compliance with a subpoena or other court order for use in a legal proceeding.
(iii)The distribution is made in the course of a lawful public proceeding.
(iv)The distribution is related to a matter of public concern or public interest. Distribution is not a matter of public concern or public interest solely because the depicted individual is a public figure.
(5)This subdivision does not preclude punishment under any section of law providing for greater punishment.
(k)(1)A second or subsequent violation of subdivision (j) is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, or by a fine not exceeding two thousand dollars ($2,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment.
(2)If the victim of a violation of subdivision (j) was a minor at the time of the offense, the violation is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, or by a fine not exceeding two thousand dollars ($2,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment.
(l)(1)If a crime is committed in violation of subdivision (b) and the person who was solicited was a minor at the time of the offense, and if the defendant knew or should have known that the person who was solicited was a minor at the time of the offense, the violation is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for not less than two days and not more than one year, or by a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment.
(2)The court may, in unusual cases, when the interests of justice are best served, reduce or eliminate the mandatory two days of imprisonment in a county jail required by this subdivision. If the court reduces or eliminates the mandatory two days imprisonment, the court shall specify the reason on the record.
SEC. 3.Section 647.3 of the Penal Code is amended to read:647.3.(a)A person who reports being a victim of, or a witness to, a serious felony as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 1192.7, an assault in violation of subdivision (a) of Section 245, domestic violence in violation of Section 273.5, extortion in violation of Section 518, human trafficking in violation of Section 236.1, sexual battery in violation of subdivision (a) of Section 243.4, or stalking in violation of Section 646.9 shall not be arrested for any of the following offenses if that offense is related to the crime that the person is reporting or if the person was engaged in that offense at or around the time that the person was the victim of or witness to the crime they are reporting:
(1)A misdemeanor violation of the California Uniform Controlled Substances Act (Division 10 (commencing with Section 11000) of the Health and Safety Code).
(2)A violation of Section 372 or 372, subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 647, or former Section 653.22, if the offense is related to an act of prostitution.
(b)Possession of condoms in any amount shall not provide a basis for probable cause for arrest for a violation of Section 372 or 372, subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 647, or former Section 653.22 if the offense is related to an act of prostitution.
SEC. 4.Section 653.20 is added to the Penal Code, to read:653.20.For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:
(a)Commit prostitution means to engage in sexual conduct for money or other consideration, but does not include sexual conduct engaged in as a part of any stage performance, play, or other entertainment open to the public.
(b)Public place means an area open to the public, or an alley, plaza, park, driveway, or parking lot, or an automobile, whether moving or not, or a building open to the general public, including one which serves food or drink, or provides entertainment, or the doorways and entrances to a building or dwelling, or the grounds enclosing a building or dwelling.
(c)Loiter means to delay or linger without a lawful purpose for being on the property and for the purpose of committing a crime as opportunity may be discovered.
SEC. 5.Section 653.22 is added to the Penal Code, to read:653.22.(a)(1)Except as specified in paragraph (2), it is unlawful for any person to loiter in any public place with the intent to commit prostitution. This intent is evidenced by acting in a manner and under circumstances that openly demonstrate the purpose of inducing, enticing, or soliciting prostitution, or procuring another to commit prostitution.
(2)Notwithstanding paragraph (1), this subdivision does not apply to a child under 18 years of age who is alleged to have engaged in conduct that would, if committed by an adult, violate this subdivision. A commercially exploited child under this paragraph may be adjudged a dependent child of the court pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 300 of the Welfare and Institutions Code and may be taken into temporary custody pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 305 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, if the conditions allowing temporary custody without warrant are met.
(b)Among the circumstances that may be considered in determining whether a person loiters with the intent to commit prostitution are that the person:
(1)Repeatedly beckons to, stops, engages in conversations with, or attempts to stop or engage in conversations with passersby, indicative of soliciting for prostitution.
(2)Repeatedly stops or attempts to stop motor vehicles by hailing the drivers, waving arms, or making any other bodily gestures, or engages or attempts to engage the drivers or passengers of the motor vehicles in conversation, indicative of soliciting for prostitution.
(3)Has been convicted of violating this section, subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 647, or any other offense relating to or involving prostitution, within five years of the arrest under this section.
(4)Circles an area in a motor vehicle and repeatedly beckons to, contacts, or attempts to contact or stop pedestrians or other motorists, or impedes traffic, indicative of soliciting for prostitution.
(5)Has engaged, within six months prior to the arrest under this section, in any behavior described in this subdivision, with the exception of paragraph (3), or in any other behavior indicative of prostitution activity.
(c)The list of circumstances set forth in subdivision (b) is not exclusive. The circumstances set forth in subdivision (b) should be considered particularly salient if they occur in an area that is known for prostitution activity. Any other relevant circumstances may be considered in determining whether a person has the requisite intent. Moreover, no single circumstance or combination of circumstances is in itself determinative of intent. Intent must be determined based on an evaluation of the particular circumstances of each case.
SEC. 6.Section 653.23 of the Penal Code is amended to read:653.23.(a)It is unlawful for a person to do either of the following:
(1)Direct, supervise, recruit, or otherwise aid another person in the commission of a violation of subdivision (b) of Section 647. 647 or subdivision (a) of Section 653.22.
(2)Collect or receive all or part of the proceeds earned from an act or acts of prostitution committed by another person in violation of subdivision (b) of Section 647.
(b)Among the circumstances that may be considered in determining whether a person is in violation of subdivision (a) are that the person does the following:
(1)Repeatedly speaks or communicates with another person who is acting in violation of subdivision (a) of Section 653.22.
(2)Repeatedly or continuously monitors or watches another person who is acting in violation of subdivision (a) of Section 653.22.
(3)Repeatedly engages or attempts to engage in conversation with pedestrians or motorists to solicit, arrange, or facilitate an act of prostitution between the pedestrians or motorists and another person who is acting in violation of subdivision (a) of Section 653.22.
(4)Repeatedly stops or attempts to stop pedestrians or motorists, or impedes traffic, to solicit, arrange, or facilitate an act of prostitution between pedestrians or motorists and another person who is acting in violation of subdivision (a) of Section 653.22.
(5)Circles an area in a motor vehicle and repeatedly beckons to, contacts, or attempts to contact or stop pedestrians or other motorists to solicit, arrange, or facilitate an act of prostitution between the pedestrians or motorists and another person who is acting in violation of subdivision (a) of Section 653.22.
(6)Receives or appears to receive money from another person who is acting in violation of subdivision (a) of Section 653.22.
(7)Engages in any of the behavior described in paragraphs (1) to (6), inclusive, in regard to or on behalf of two or more persons who are in violation of subdivision (a) of Section 653.22.
(8)Has been convicted of violating this section, subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 647, subdivision (a) of Section 653.22, or Section 266h or 266i, or any other offense relating to or involving prostitution within five years of the arrest under this section.
(9)Has engaged, within six months prior to the arrest under subdivision (a), in any behavior described in this subdivision, with the exception of paragraph (8), or in any other behavior indicative of prostitution activity.
(c)The list of circumstances set forth in subdivision (b) is not exclusive. The circumstances set forth in subdivision (b) should be considered particularly salient if they occur in an area that is known for prostitution activity. Any other relevant circumstances may be considered. Moreover, no single circumstance or combination of circumstances is in itself determinative. A violation of subdivision (a) shall be determined based on an evaluation of the particular circumstances of each case.
(b)(d)Nothing in this section shall preclude the prosecution of a suspect for a violation of Section 266h or 266i or for any other offense, or for a violation of this section in conjunction with a violation of Section 266h or 266i or any other offense.
SEC. 7.Section 653.29 of the Penal Code is repealed.653.29.(a)(1)A person currently serving a sentence for a conviction of violating former Section 653.22, whether by trial or by open or negotiated plea, may petition for a recall or dismissal of sentence before the trial court that entered the judgment of conviction in the case to request resentencing or dismissal, and sealing, as applicable.(2)Upon receiving a petition under paragraph (1), the court shall presume the petitioner satisfies the criteria in paragraph (1) unless the party opposing the petition proves by clear and convincing evidence that the petitioner does not satisfy the criteria. If the petitioner satisfies the criteria in paragraph (1), the court shall grant the petition to recall the sentence or dismiss the sentence because it is legally invalid and shall seal the conviction as legally invalid.(b)(1)A person who has completed their sentence for a conviction of violating former Section 653.22, whether by trial or open or negotiated plea, may file an application before the trial court that entered the judgment of conviction in their case to have the conviction dismissed and sealed because the prior conviction is now legally invalid.(2)The court shall presume the petitioner satisfies the criteria in paragraph (1) unless the party opposing the application proves by clear and convincing evidence that the petitioner does not satisfy the criteria in paragraph (1). Once the applicant satisfies the criteria in paragraph (1), the court shall seal the conviction as legally invalid.(c)Unless requested by the applicant, no hearing is necessary to grant or deny an application filed under subdivision (b).(d)If the court that originally sentenced the petitioner is not available, the presiding judge shall designate another judge to rule on the petition or application.(e)Nothing in this section is intended to diminish or abrogate any rights or remedies otherwise available to the petitioner or applicant.(f)The Judicial Council shall promulgate and make available all necessary forms to enable the filing of the petitions and applications provided in this section.SEC. 8.Section 1203.47 of the Penal Code is amended to read:1203.47.(a)A person who was found to be a person described in Section 602 of the Welfare and Institutions Code by reason of the commission of an offense described in subdivision (b) of Section 647 or in former Section 653.22 may, upon reaching 18 years of age, petition the court to have their record sealed, as provided in Section 781 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, except that, as pertaining to any records regarding the commission of an offense described in subdivision (b) of Section 647 or in former Section 653.22, it shall not be a requirement in granting the petition for the person to show that they have not been convicted of a felony or of any misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, or that rehabilitation has been attained to the satisfaction of the court. Upon granting the petition, all records relating to the violation or violations of subdivision (b) of Section 647 or of former Section 653.22, or both, shall be sealed pursuant to Section 781 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(b)The relief provided by this section does not apply to a person adjudicated pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 647 or Section 653.22 who paid money or any other valuable thing, or attempted to pay money or any other valuable thing, to any person for the purpose of prostitution as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 647.
(c)This section applies to adjudications that occurred before, as well as those that occur after, the effective date of this section.
(d)A petition granted pursuant to this section does not authorize the sealing of any part of a persons record that is unrelated to a violation of subdivision (b) of Section 647. 647, Section 635.22, or both.
SEC. 9.Section 99171 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to read:99171.(a)(1)A transit district may issue a prohibition order to any person to whom either of the following applies:
(A)On at least three separate occasions within a period of 90 consecutive days, the person is cited for an infraction committed in or on a vehicle, bus stop, or train or light rail station of the transit district or a property, facility, or vehicle upon which the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District owes policing responsibilities to a local government pursuant to an operations and maintenance agreement or similar interagency agreement for an act that is a violation of paragraph (2) or (5) of subdivision (a) of Section 99170 of this code or paragraph (1), (2), (3), or (4) of subdivision (d) of Section 640 or Section 640.5 of the Penal Code.
(B)The person is arrested or convicted for a misdemeanor or felony committed in or on a vehicle, bus stop, or light rail station of the transit district for acts involving violence, threats of violence, lewd or lascivious behavior, or possession for sale or sale of a controlled substance.
(C)The person is convicted of a violation of Section 11532 of the Health and Safety Code. Code or Section 653.22 of the Penal Code.
(2)A person subject to a prohibition order may not enter the property, facilities, or vehicles of the transit district or the property, facilities, or vehicles upon which the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District owes policing responsibilities to a local government pursuant to an operations and maintenance agreement or similar interagency agreement for a period of time deemed appropriate by the transit district, provided that the duration of a prohibition order shall not exceed the following, as applicable:
(A)Thirty days if issued pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1), provided that a second prohibition order within one year may not exceed 90 days, and a third or subsequent prohibition order within one year may not exceed 180 days.
(B)Thirty days if issued pursuant to an arrest pursuant to subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1). Upon conviction of a misdemeanor offense, the duration of the prohibition order for the conviction, when added to the duration of the prohibition order for the initial arrest, if any, may not exceed 180 days. Upon conviction of a felony offense, the duration of the prohibition order for the conviction, when added to the duration of the prohibition order for the initial arrest, if any, may not exceed one year.
(3)A prohibition order issued pursuant to this subdivision shall not be effective unless the transit district first affords the person an opportunity to contest the transit districts proposed action in accordance with procedures adopted by the transit district for this purpose. A transit districts procedures shall provide, at a minimum, for the notice and other protections set forth in subdivisions (b) and (c), and the transit district shall provide reasonable notification to the public of the availability of those procedures.
(b)(1)A notice of a prohibition order issued under subdivision (a) shall set forth a description of the conduct underlying the violation or violations giving rise to the prohibition order, including reference to the applicable statutory provision, ordinance, or transit district rule violated, the date of the violation, the approximate time of the violation, the location where the violation occurred, the period of the proposed prohibition, and the scope of the prohibition. The notice shall include a clear and conspicuous statement indicating the procedure for contesting the prohibition order. The notice of prohibition order shall be personally served upon the violator. The notice of prohibition order, or a copy, shall be considered a record kept in the ordinary course of business of the transit district and shall be prima facie evidence of the facts contained in the notice establishing a rebuttable presumption affecting the burden of producing evidence. For purposes of this paragraph, clear and conspicuous means in larger type than the surrounding text, or in contrasting type, font, or color to the surrounding text of the same size, or set off from the surrounding text of the same size by symbols or other marks that call attention to the language.
(2)For purposes of this section, personal service means any of the following:
(A)In-person delivery.
(B)Delivery by any form of mail providing for delivery confirmation, postage prepaid, to at least one address provided by the person being served, including, but not limited to, the address set forth in any citation or in court records.
(C)Any alternate method approved in writing by the transit district and the person being served.
(3)If a person served with a notice of prohibition order is not able, or refuses, to provide a mailing address, the notice of prohibition order shall set forth the procedure for obtaining any letters, notices, or orders related to the prohibition order from the administrative offices of the transit district. For purposes of this section, delivery shall be deemed to have been made on the following date, as applicable:
(A)On the date of delivery, if delivered in person.
(B)On the date of confirmed delivery, for any delivery by mail.
(C)For any alternate method of service, as provided in the writing specifying the alternate method.
(4)Proof of service of the notice shall be filed with the transit district.
(5)If a person contests a notice of prohibition order, the transit district shall proceed in accordance with subdivision (c). If the notice of prohibition order is not contested within 10 calendar days after delivery by personal service, the prohibition order shall be deemed final and shall go into effect, without further action by the transit district, for the period of time set forth in the order.
(6)All prohibition orders shall be subject to an automatic stay and shall not take effect until the latest of the following:
(A)Eleven calendar days after delivery of the prohibition order by personal service.
(B)If an initial review is timely requested under paragraph (1) of subdivision (c), 11 calendar days after delivery by personal service of the results of the review.
(C)If an administrative hearing is timely requested under paragraph (3) of subdivision (c), the date the hearing officers decision is delivered by personal service.
(c)(1)For a period of 10 calendar days from the delivery of the prohibition order by personal service, the person may request an initial review of the prohibition order by the transit district. The request may be made by telephone, in writing, or in person. There shall be no charge for this review. In conducting its review and reaching a determination, the transit district shall determine whether the prohibition order meets the requirements of subdivision (a) and, unless the person has been convicted of the offense or offenses, whether the offense or offenses for which the person was cited or arrested are proven by a preponderance of the evidence. If, following the initial review, based on these findings, the transit district determines that the prohibition order is not adequately supported or that extenuating circumstances make dismissal of the prohibition order appropriate in the interest of justice, the transit district shall cancel the notice. If, following the initial review, based on these findings, the transit district determines that the prohibition order should be upheld in whole or in part, the transit district shall issue a written statement to that effect, including any modification to the period or scope of the prohibition order. The transit district shall serve the results of the initial review to the person contesting the notice by personal service.
(2)The transit district may modify or cancel a prohibition order in the interest of justice. The transit district shall cancel a prohibition order if it determines that the person did not understand the nature and extent of their actions or did not have the ability to control their actions. If the person is dependent upon the transit system for trips of necessity, including, but not limited to, travel to or from medical or legal appointments, school or training classes, places of employment, or obtaining food, clothing, and necessary household items, the transit district shall modify a prohibition order to allow for those trips. A person requesting a cancellation or modification in the interest of justice shall have the burden of establishing the qualifying circumstances by a preponderance of the evidence.
(3)If the person is dissatisfied with the results of the initial review, the person may request an administrative hearing of the prohibition order no later than 10 calendar days after the results of the initial review are delivered by personal service. The request may be made by telephone, in writing, or in person. An administrative hearing shall be held within 30 calendar days after the receipt of a request for an administrative hearing. The person requesting the hearing may request one continuance, not to exceed seven calendar days.
(4)The administrative hearing process shall include all of the following:
(A)The person requesting the hearing shall have the choice of a hearing by mail or in person. An in-person hearing shall be conducted within the jurisdiction of the transit district.
(B)The administrative hearing shall be conducted in accordance with written procedures established by the transit district and approved by the governing body or chief executive officer of the transit district. The hearing shall provide an independent, objective, fair, and impartial review of the prohibition order.
(C)The administrative review shall be conducted before a hearing officer designated to conduct the review by the transit districts governing body or chief executive officer. In addition to any other requirements, a hearing officer shall demonstrate the qualifications, training, and objectivity prescribed by the transit agencys governing body or chief executive officer as are necessary to fulfill and that are consistent with the duties and responsibilities set forth in this subdivision. The hearing officers continued service, performance evaluation, compensation, and benefits, as applicable, shall not be directly or indirectly linked to the number of prohibition orders upheld by the hearing officer.
(D)The person who issued the notice of prohibition order shall not be required to participate in an administrative hearing, unless participation is requested by the person requesting the hearing. The request for participation shall be made at least five calendar days before the date of the hearing and may be made by telephone, in writing, or in person. The notice of prohibition order, in proper form, shall be prima facie evidence of the violation or violations pursuant to subdivision (a) establishing a rebuttable presumption affecting the burden of producing evidence.
(E)In issuing a decision, the hearing officer shall determine whether the prohibition order meets the requirements of subdivision (a) and, unless the person has been convicted of the offense or offenses, whether the offense or offenses for which the person was cited or arrested are proven by a preponderance of the evidence. Based upon these findings, the hearing officer may uphold the prohibition order in whole, determine that the prohibition order is not adequately supported, or cancel or modify the prohibition order in the interest of justice. The hearing officer shall cancel a prohibition order if they determine that the person did not understand the nature and extent of their actions or did not have the ability to control their actions. If the person is dependent upon the transit system for trips of necessity, including, but not limited to, travel to or from medical or legal appointments, school or training classes, places of employment, or obtaining food, clothing, and necessary household items, the transit district shall modify a prohibition order to allow for those trips. A person requesting a cancellation or modification in the interest of justice shall have the burden of establishing the qualifying circumstances by a preponderance of the evidence.
(F)The hearing officers decision following the administrative hearing shall be delivered by personal service.
(G)A person aggrieved by the final decision of the hearing officer may seek judicial review of the decision within 90 days of the date of delivery of the decision by personal service, as provided by Section 1094.6 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
(d)A person issued a prohibition order under subdivision (a) may, within 10 calendar days of the date the order goes into effect under paragraph (6) of subdivision (b), request a refund for any prepaid fare media rendered unusable in whole or in part by the prohibition order, including, but not limited to, monthly passes. If the fare media remain usable for one or more days outside the period of the prohibition order, the refund shall be prorated based on the number of days the fare media will be unusable. The issuance of a refund may be made contingent on surrender of the fare media.
(e)For purposes of this section, transit district means the Sacramento Regional Transit District, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the Fresno Area Express, the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District, or the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority.
SEC. 10.Section 13201.5 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:13201.5.(a)A court may suspend, for not more than 30 days, the privilege of a person to operate a motor vehicle upon a first conviction of paragraph (6) of subdivision (b) of Section 647 of the Penal Code or a conviction that meets the factual circumstances described in paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) of Section 653.22 of the Penal Code.
(b)For a second conviction of the above-described provisions, the vehicle used in the commission of the crime shall be impounded for 30 days.
(c)For a third or subsequent conviction of the above-described provisions, the vehicle used in the commission of the crime shall be impounded for 30 days and the person shall be fined one thousand dollars ($1,000).
SEC. 11.Section 18259 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:18259.(a)The County of Alameda, contingent upon local funding, may establish a project consistent with this chapter to develop a comprehensive, replicative, multidisciplinary model to address the needs and effective treatment of commercially sexually exploited minors who have been arrested or detained by local law enforcement for a violation of subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 647 or subdivision (a) of former Section 653.22 of the Penal Code, or who have been adjudged a dependent of the juvenile court pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 300.
(b)The District Attorney of the County of Alameda, in collaboration with the county child welfare agency, county probation, sheriff, and community-based agencies, may develop, as a component of the program described in this chapter, protocols for identifying and assessing minors, upon arrest or detention by law enforcement, who may be victims of commercial sexual exploitation. The protocol shall include the process for how to make a report to the county child welfare agency if there is reason to believe the minor is a person described in Section 300. The protocol shall also include the process for the child welfare agency to investigate the report pursuant to Section 328.
(c)The District Attorney of the County of Alameda, in collaboration with the county child welfare agency, county probation, sheriff, and community-based agencies that serve commercially sexually exploited minors, may develop, as a component of the program described in this chapter, a diversion program reflecting the best practices to address the needs and requirements of minors who have been determined to be victims of commercial sexual exploitation.
(d)The District Attorney of the County of Alameda, in collaboration with the county and community-based agencies, may form, as a component of the program described in this chapter, a multidisciplinary team including, but not limited to, city police departments, the county sheriffs department, the public defenders office, the probation department, child protection services, and community-based organizations that work with or advocate for commercially sexually exploited minors, to do both of the following:
(1)Develop a training curriculum reflecting the best practices for identifying and assessing minors who may be victims of commercial sexual exploitation.
(2)Offer and provide this training curriculum through multidisciplinary teams to law enforcement, child protective services, and others who are required to respond to arrested or detained minors who may be victims of commercial sexual exploitation.
SEC. 12.Section 18259.3 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:18259.3.(a)For purposes of this chapter, commercially sexually exploited minor means a person under 18 years of age who is described by one or more of the following:
(1)Has been abused in the manner described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) of Section 11165.1 of the Penal Code, and who has been detained for a violation of the law or placed in civil protective custody on a safety hold based only on a violation of subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 647 of the Penal Code or subdivision (a) of former Section 653.22 of the Penal Code.
(2)Has been adjudged a dependent of the juvenile court pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 300.
(3)Has been the victim of abduction, as described in Section 267 of the Penal Code.
(4)Meets the definition of a victim of a severe form of trafficking, as defined in Section 7105 of Title 22 of the United States Code.
(b)If a minor is arrested or detained for an alleged violation of subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 647 of the Penal Code or of subdivision (a) of former Section 653.22 of the Penal Code, or if a minor is the subject of a petition to be adjudged a dependent of the juvenile court pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 300, they shall be presumed to be a commercially sexually exploited minor, as defined in subdivision (a).
SEC. 13.No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution.
|
Date
|
Status
|
|---|---|
| Apr 2, 2024 | April 2 hearing: Held in committee and under submission. |
| Mar 8, 2024 | Set for hearing April 2. |
| Feb 29, 2024 | Referred to Com. on PUB S. |
| Feb 16, 2024 | From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 17. |
| Feb 15, 2024 | Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print. |
This list shows positions taken on this bill by organizations on the date displayed, which is linked to the original source.
Positions by individuals are not included.
|
Organization
|
Position
|
Date
|
|---|---|---|
| Aaron Read & Associates | * Support | Apr 2, 2024 |
| Aclu California Action | * Against | Apr 2, 2024 |
| APLA Health | * Against | Apr 2, 2024 |
| Bridge Network | * Support | Apr 2, 2024 |
| California Attorneys For Criminal Justice | * Against | Apr 2, 2024 |
| California Family Council | * Support | Apr 2, 2024 |
| California GA's Association | * Support | Apr 2, 2024 |
| California Public Defenders Association | * Against | Apr 2, 2024 |
| California State Senate | * Support | Apr 2, 2024 |
| Center on Reproductive Rights and Justice | * Against | Apr 2, 2024 |
| Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking | * Against | Apr 2, 2024 |
| Concerned women for america | * Support | Apr 2, 2024 |
| Decrim Sexwork California | * Against | Apr 2, 2024 |
| Ella Baker Center For Human Rights | * Against | Apr 2, 2024 |
| Equality California | * Against | Apr 2, 2024 |
| Exodus Cry | * Support | Apr 2, 2024 |
| Free Speech Coalition | * Against | Apr 2, 2024 |
| Legal Services for Prisoners or Children | * Against | Apr 2, 2024 |
| Million Kids | * Support | Apr 2, 2024 |
| Peace Officers Research Association Of California | * Support | Apr 2, 2024 |
| Planned Parenthood Affiliates Of California | * Against | Apr 2, 2024 |
| Protect Kids California | * Support | Apr 2, 2024 |
| Riverside County District Attorney's Office | * Support | Apr 2, 2024 |
| Riverside County Sheriff's Office | * Support | Apr 2, 2024 |
| San Bernardino County Sheriff'S Department | * Support | Apr 2, 2024 |
| San Francisco Aids Foundation | ** Against | Apr 2, 2024 |
| San Francisco Police Officer Association | * Support | Apr 2, 2024 |
| San Francisco Public Defenders Office | ** Against | Apr 2, 2024 |
| San Francisco Resident | * Support | Apr 2, 2024 |
| Smart Justice California | * Against | Apr 2, 2024 |
SENATE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY
Senator Aisha Wahab, Chair
2023 - 2024 Regular
Bill No: SB 1219 Hearing Date: April 2, 2024
Author: | Seyarto | ||
Version: | February 15, 2024 | ||
Urgency: | No | Fiscal: | Yes |
Consultant: | SC | ||
Subject: Crimes: prostitution
HISTORY
Source: San Diego District Attorney’s Office
Prior Legislation: SB 357 (Wiener), Ch. 86, Stats. 2022
SB 1322 (Mitchell), Ch. 654, Stats. 2016
Support: Arcadia Police Officers' Association; Bridge Network; Burbank Police Officers' Association; California Baptist for Biblical Values; California Coalition of School Safety Professionals; California District Attorneys Assoc.; California Narcotic Officers' Association; California Reserve Peace Officers Association; City of Stanton; Claremont Police Officers Association; Concerned Women for America; Corona Police Officers Association; Culver City Police Officers' Association; Deputy Sheriffs' Association of Monterey County; Exodus Cry; Fullerton Police Officers' Association; Hear She! Hear She!; Journey Out; Lighthouse Baptist Church; Los Angeles School Police Management Association; Los Angeles School Police Officers Association; Murrieta Police Officers' Association; National Center on Sexual Exploitation; Newport Beach Police Association; Novato Police Officers Association; Our Duty; Palos Verdes Police Officers Association; Placer County Deputy Sheriffs' Association; Pomona Police Officers' Association; PORAC; Positive Change Consultants; Riverside County Sheriff's Office; Riverside Police Officers Association; Riverside Sheriffs' Association; San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Dept.; Santa Ana Police Officers Association; Upland Police Officers Association
Opposition: Access Reproductive Justice; ACLU California Action; Any Positive Change INC.; APLA Health; California Attorneys for Criminal Justice; California Public Defenders Assoc.; Californians for Safety and Justice; Californians United for A Responsible Budget; Call Off Your Old Tired Ethics (coyote Ri); Center on Reproductive Rights and Justice At Berkeley Law; Community Health Project LA; Courage California; Decriminalize Sex Work; El/la Para Translatinas; Ella Baker Center for Human Rights; Equality California; Erotic Service Providers Legal, Education, and Research Project; Initiate Justice; Initiate Justice Action; Legal Services for Prisoners with Children; Los Angeles LGBT Center; National Center for Lesbian Rights; National Harm Reduction Coalition; Oasis Legal Services; Sacramento LGBT Community Center; San Francisco Public Defender; Smart Justice California; Soar Institute; The Sidewalk Project; Uncommon Law; Woodhull Freedom Foundation; Young Women's Freedom Center
PURPOSE
The purpose of this bill is to: 1) re-enact the crime of loitering in a public place to commit prostitution; 2) create a new misdemeanor to operate a motor vehicle in any public place and repeatedly beckon to, contact, or attempt to contact or stop pedestrians or other motorists, or impede traffic, with the intent to solicit prostitution; and 3) authorize a court to suspend the driving privileges for a person convicted of the new misdemeanor for impeding traffic with the intent to solicit prostitution or a conviction where the factual circumstances show a person impeded traffic in a manner indicative of soliciting for prostitution.
Existing law makes it a misdemeanor to solicit anyone to engage in or engage in lewd or dissolute conduct in any public place or in any place open to the public or exposed to public view. (Pen. Code, § 647, subd. (a).)
Existing law makes it a misdemeanor to solicit, agree to engage in, or engage in any act of prostitution with the intent to receive compensation, money, or anything of value from another person. (Pen. Code, § 647, subd. (b)(1).)
Existing law makes it a misdemeanor to solicit, agree to engage in, or engage in, any act of prostitution with another person who is 18 years of age or older in exchange for the individual providing compensation, money, or anything of value to the other person. (Pen. Code § 647, subd. (b)(2).)
Existing law, until January 1, 2023, made it a misdemeanor to loiter in a public place with the intent to commit prostitution. (Former Pen. Code § 653.22 & 653.26.)
Existing law, until January 1, 2023, stated that among the circumstances that may be considered in determining whether a person loiters with intent to commit prostitution are that the person:
- Repeatedly beckons to, stops, engages in conversations with, or attempts to stop or engage in conversations with passersby, indicative of soliciting for prostitution;
- Repeatedly stops or attempts to stop motor vehicles by hailing the drivers, waving arms, or making any other bodily gestures, or engages or attempts to engage the drivers or passengers of the motor vehicles in conversation, indicative of soliciting for prostitution;
- Has been convicted of violating this section, or other offenses related or involving prostitution, within five years of the arrest under this section;
- Circles an area in a motor vehicle and repeatedly beckons to, contacts, or attempts to contact or stop pedestrians or other motorists, indicative of soliciting for prostitution;
- Has engaged, within six months prior to the arrest under this section, in any behavior described in this subdivision or any other behavior indicative of prostitution activity.
(Former Pen. Code, § 653.22, subd. (b).)
Existing law, until January 1, 2023, stated that the circumstances set forth above is not exclusive. These circumstances should be considered particularly salient if they occur in an area that is known for prostitution activity. (Former Pen. Code, § 653.22, subd. (c).
Existing law, until January 1, 2023, contained the following definitions:
- “Commit prostitution” means to engage in sexual conduct for money or other consideration, except as specified;
- “Public place” means an area open to the public, or an alley, plaza, park, driveway, or parking lot, or an automobile, whether movie or not, or a building open to the general public, including one which serves food or drink, or provides entertainment, or the doorways and entrances to a building or dwelling, or the grounds enclosing a building or dwelling.
- “Loiter” means to delay or linger without a lawful purpose for being on the property and for the purpose of committing a crime as opportunity may be discovered.
(Former Pen. Code, § 653.20.)
This bill reenacts the crime of loitering in a public place with the intent to commit prostitution.
This bill makes it a misdemeanor disorderly conduct for an individual who operates a motor vehicle in any public place and repeatedly beckons to, contacts, or attempts to contact or stop pedestrians or other motorists, or impedes traffic, with the intent to solicit prostitution.
This bill repeals provisions of law that authorizes a person who had a prior conviction for loitering with intent to solicit prostitution to dismiss their conviction.
Existing law, until January 1, 2020, repealed the court’s authority to suspend or restrict driving privileges for engaging in an act of prostitution or prostitution-related offense within 1000-feet of a private residence and with the use of a vehicle.
This bill authorizes a court to suspend, for not more than 30 days, the privilege of a person to operate a motor vehicle upon a first conviction of the new disorderly conduct offense created by this bill, or a conviction where the factual circumstances show a person had circled an area in a motor vehicle and repeatedly beckoned to, contacted, or attempted to contact or stop pedestrians or other motorists, or impedes traffic, indicative of soliciting for prostitution.
This bill specifies that for a second conviction based on the above-described provisions, the vehicle used in the commission of the offense shall be impounded for 30 days; on a third or subsequence conviction, the vehicle used in the commission of the offense shall be impounded for 30 days and the person shall be fined $1,000.
This bill makes other conforming changes.
COMMENTS
- Need for This Bill
According to the author of this bill:
Human trafficking is modern-day slavery. Black and Brown women are disproportionately at higher risk for human trafficking, and recently, there has been an explosion of underage prostitution amongst the same groups. Not only has research from the U.S. State Department revealed that prostitution creates a safe haven for criminals, more studies are finding that legalized prostitution does not lead to better safeguards but often worsens protections for victims and survivors. SB-1219 will make the acts of impeding traffic and loitering in a public place with the intent to direct or solicit prostitution forms of disorderly conduct; offering a narrowed tool to assist in the war on human trafficking.
- Recent Repeal of Loitering with Intent to Commit Prostitution
In 2022, the Legislature passed and the Governor signed SB 357 (Wiener) which repealed the crime of loitering in a public place with the intent to commit prostitution. The crime of loitering with the intent to commit prostitution was enacted in 1995 by AB 1035 (Katz). At the time, soliciting or agreeing to engage in prostitution was already a crime, however according to the Senate Committee’s analysis of the bill, the author and proponents of the bill expressed that the bill was needed because existing laws were ineffective at resulting in arrests of persons who were believed to be sex workers and the presence of such individuals add to crime and blight of their neighborhoods. According to the author’s statement provided in the analysis for AB 1035:
Prostitutes and drug dealers blatantly work on the streets in defiance of law enforcement. Prostitution and drug dealing adversely affect the safety, welfare, and health of our neighborhoods while hurting small businesses and decreasing property values. While it is usually quite obvious that prostitutes and drug dealers are conducting business, existing law has been ineffective in securing their arrest.
In order to be arrested, prostitutes must either solicit, accept, or engage in a sexual act for money. Drug dealers must be caught exchanging controlled substances for money. These criminals have become skilled in their operations -- they are familiar with undercover officers and know exactly what they can and cannot say to avoid arrest. They blatantly work the streets in defiance of law enforcement -- and add to the rampant crime and blight in some of our neighborhoods.
(Sen. Comm. on Crim. Procedure, Analysis of Assem. Bill No. 1035 (1995-1996 Reg. Sess.) as amended Apr. 6, 1995, p. d.)
The committee analysis cites concerns by opponents of the bill that enacting the proposed crime of loitering with the intent to commit prostitution may allow police officers to make arrests with substantially less than probable cause that a crime has been or will be committed by providing broad discretion on what circumstances may satisfy the intent to commit prostitution which may lead to subjective and arbitrary arrests. (Id. at pp. i-j.)
As stated by the author of SB 357 which repealed the crime of loitering with intent to commit prostitution, “This misdemeanor crime has failed to protect public safety, in addition to contributing to the discrimination on the basis of gender, race, class and perceived sex worker status – in particular, targeting Black women and members of the transgender community. This bill does not decriminalize soliciting or engaging in sex work. (Sen. Comm. on Public Safety, Analysis of Sen. Bill No. 357 (2021-22 Reg. Sess.) as amended Apr. 5, 2021, p. 4.)
The committee’s analysis of the bill also pointed to a study showing the disparate arrest rates on Black women:
The study found that the majority of arrests were made up of young Black women. 42.6 percent of arrests were for people aged 21-24 with the next highest rate being 23.4 percent for people aged 18-20. (Id. at p. 2.) As for race, 72.3 percent were Black with the next highest rate being 17 percent for Hispanic. (Id. at p. 4.)
The study shows that probable cause was most commonly established by the arrestee’s presence in an area known for sex work, their clothing, and motioning in a flirtatious manner to vehicles. (Id. at p. 14.) Other stated reasons for establishing probable cause for the arrest include possession of a cellphone, possession of cash, reacting to presence of police, giving conflicting information about activities, among many other stated reasons. (Ibid.)
(Id. at p. 5, citing Demeri, Policing of People in the Sex Trades in Compton: Analysis of Section 653.22 Clients, Law Offices of the Los Angeles County Public Defender (2019).)
Opponents of SB 357 argued that repealing the crime would make it more difficult to crack down on human trafficking operations. Since the passage of the law, various police chiefs, mayors and district attorneys have criticized the law and advocated for its repeal. (See https://abc7news.com/ca-loitering-law-sex-trafficking-sb-357-workers/12910562/ [as of Mar. 14, 2024].)
- Existing Laws to Criminalizing Prostitution and Human Trafficking
As noted above, SB 357 repealed the crime of loitering with the intent to commit prostitution. It did not repeal the crime of solicitation for prostitution or engaging in prostitution. (Pen. Code, § 647, sub. (b).) Under existing law, both a sex worker and a person who wants to buy such services may be criminally liable. Supervising, recruiting, or collecting the part of proceeds earned from an act of prostitution committed by another person also remains a crime. (Pen. Code, § 653.23.) Pimping and pandering (Pen. Code, §§ 266h and 255i), selling of a prostitute (Pen. Code, § 266f), procurement of a minor for prostitution (Pen. Code, § 266), and abduction of a minor for prostitution (Pen. Code, § 267) all remain crimes.
Additionally, human trafficking remains a crime with increased penalties for commercial sexual exploitation. (Pen. Code, § 236.1.) Existing law also provides that it is the duty of law enforcement agencies to use due diligence to identify victims of human trafficking (Pen. Code, § 236.2) and authorizes the forfeiture of money and property used for facilitating human trafficking (Pen. Code, § 236.7).
Existing law also recognizes that a minor who is commercially exploited for sex cannot be held criminally liable for prostitution. Instead, law enforcement who encounter minors involved in commercial sex acts are required to report the situation to county social services as abuse or neglect and authorizes the minor to be taken into temporary custody to protect the minor’s health or safety. (Pen. Code, § 647, sub. (b)(5), enacted by SB 1322 (Mitchell), ch. 654, stats. 2016.) Thus, under existing law, even though it is not a crime for a minor to engage in solicitation, officers who believe a minor is a victim of human trafficking may still take action to help.
- Sex Work is not Synonymous with Sex Trafficking
While sex work can involve coercion or force on one end of the spectrum, on the other end is choice and circumstances that may lead a person to get involved in sex work. Studies indicate that criminalization of sex work does not result in more protection for victims; on the contrary, it has shown to result in increased victimization and erosion of trust with law enforcement and health providers.
According to a recent United Nations report:
In jurisdictions which criminalise sex workers, violations of their rights are numerous, and range from arbitrary arrests (for simply standing on the street or for having condoms), lack of respect for the rights of defence, police abuses (extortion of money or sexual services, discrimination and degrading treatment), failure to protect sex workers from violence by private individuals and lack of access to adequate health-care. Even in the jurisdictions where sex work itself is not criminalised, many related activities are, and this significantly harms sex workers. For example, criminalisation of third party activities may lead to criminalisation of not only managers, organisers and facilitators, but also of the children and partners of sex workers (under ‘living from the avails of prostitution’ provisions, for example). Further, women who work together can be criminalised for pimping, even where there is no element of exploitation among women who work together. Also, sex workers can be penalised under criminalisation of soliciting and advertising of prostitution.
In addition, sex workers – particularly those working outdoors – may be indirectly criminalised through the criminalisation of behaviours and activities adopted by marginalized and disadvantaged communities (of which sex workers are often part), such as the criminalisation of drug use and possession, the criminalisation of certain sexual orientations or gender identities, as well as homelessness. Sex workers may be charged with offenses such as loitering, vagrancy, impeding the flow of traffic, congregating for the purposes of prostitution, public indecency, or disorderly behaviour, all of which have implications for the enjoyment of their human rights, including the right to private life. By giving police powers to directly or indirectly target sex workers, criminalisation models facilitate systemic violence and undermine the sex workers’ health and safety. As stressed by sex workers at the consultations held, criminalisation of sex work furthers violence and fosters stigma, increases risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and impedes access to justice, thus undermining sex workers’ human rights.
(Mandate of the Working Group on discrimination against women and girls: Eliminating discrimination against sex workers and securing their human rights, United Nations Human Rights Special Procedures (Oct. 2023) (Fn. omitted).)
This bill re-enacts the crime of loitering with the intent to commit prostitution. The circumstances or behaviors that may be used to prove such intent include beckoning to, stopping, or attempting to engage in conversations with passersby; attempting to hail drivers, waiving arms or making other bodily gestures; having been convicted of loitering with intent to commit prostitution or solicitation for prostitution in the past 5 years; or engaging, within the past 6 months, in any of the above-described behavior. Additionally, being in an area that is known for prostitution activity is to be considered particularly salient.
This bill also reenacts similar specified circumstances that may be considered when determining whether a person has violated the offense of supervising a person in the commission of prostitution and creates a new misdemeanor offense under the crime of disorderly conduct for an individual who operates a motor vehicle in any public place and repeatedly beckons to, contacts, or attempts to contact or stop pedestrians or other motorists, or impedes traffic, with the intent to solicit prostitution.
This bill also authorizes a court to suspend the driving privileges, and in specified instances impound the vehicle, of a person based on a conviction of the new misdemeanor disorderly conduct offense created by this bill, or a conviction where the factual circumstances show a person had circled an area in a motor vehicle and repeatedly beckoned to, contacted, or attempted to contact or stop pedestrians or other motorists, or impedes traffic, indicative of soliciting for prostitution.
- Argument in Support
According to the Riverside Sheriffs’ Association:
Human trafficking is a $150 billion global industry and the fastest growing criminal enterprise in the world. California has the highest number of human trafficking incidents reported by the National Human Trafficking Hotline. Point Loma Nazarene University and the University of San Diego released a joint study that estimates more than 3,500 victims are trafficked each year in San Diego County, earning their traffickers an estimated $810 million. The study also found that 16 years was the average age of adolescents entering into a life of prostitution. In addition, each of the high schools studied had evidence of recruitment on their campuses and 90 percent of those high schools had documented cases of human trafficking.
From these numbers, we know that our youth are being exploited and even more are at risk of exploitation. We know from our cases that our child victims are often so entwined with their trafficker that they can’t see the abuse. Traffickers exploit the emotional vulnerability of children, especially those that are runaways, foster youth and those that have been previously abused. The trafficker convinces the victim that they are a family and will always be together. Vulnerable children crave this sense of belonging and will stay loyal to their trafficker even after acts of violence and exploitation.
Current law prevents from initiating investigations based on these provisions. Several news outlets have shared accounts of concerned community members seeing brazen acts of pimping on public streets and even near school grounds. Those profiting from human trafficking are even more emboldened, recruiting more victims and tightening their control over them.
Because our officers routinely encounter victims and traffickers, they are well-situated to identify, intervene, and offer resources to victims to better prevent further exploitation in the future. Additionally, by having the court routinely consider a post-conviction protective order, it will allow the victim to continue to heal from the horrific abuse that accompanies trafficking, free from the undue influence and manipulation of the trafficker. Requiring the prosecutor to address the protective order with the court will ensure a full airing of the issues in each matter, further protecting the victims.
- Argument in Opposition
According to National Harm Reduction Coalition:
Evidence shows that Penal Code section 653.22 was not being used in an effective way to help survivors of human trafficking before it was repealed. Data from the San Diego Police Department, for example, shows that Penal Code section 653.22 was not being used to address human trafficking as it was barely using the law at all. In 2021, the San Diego Police Department only arrested a total of 8 people for violating Penal Code section 653.22, while between 2019-2021, they arrested a total of 24 people for violating that law. Oakland Police Department’s police stop data for 2022 gave little indication that stops for section 653.22 resulted in support for trafficking survivors given the vast majority of stops led to arrests.
Instead, Penal Code section 653.22 harmed survivors of trafficking by criminalizing them and making them more vulnerable to the long-term negative effects of arrest and incarceration, including barriers to seeking employment, housing, or immigration relief. Trafficking survivors are better able to receive support and escape abusive and harmful situations if they are not arrested along the way. Indeed, the federal Bureau of Justice Assistance, which funds anti-trafficking task forces, prohibits use of their funds for arresting purchasers of commercial sex in most cases or arresting sex workers as a means of identifying victims of trafficking. SB 1219 would permit arrest of both sex workers and purchasers as a means of “helping” human trafficking survivors, but in reality the bill would only add to their suffering and build a wall between them and law enforcement.
Penal Code section 653.22 particularly harmed Black and Brown women and members of the transgender community. The broad, subjective nature of section 653.22 created opportunities for law enforcement to engage in discriminatory policing and rely on bias rather than evidence to criminalize otherwise legal activities like walking, dressing or standing in public. For instance, Black adults accounted for 56.1% of the section 653.22 charges in Los Angeles between 2017-2019, despite only making up 8.9% of the city’s population. Additionally, nearly one in three “loitering with intent” charges in Los Angeles County were rejected due to lack of sufficient evidence. In Compton, Black cis and trans women accounted for 72% of those charged with loitering with intent despite only being 30.9% of the population. The legal bullying of cis and trans women of color by police results in distrust and an unwillingness to call on police to protect them and others from violence or other forms of victimization.
. . . .
There are effective, non-criminal ways to identify and assist survivors that do not carry the long-term negative effects of criminalization. Law enforcement does not need to arrest someone to implement such approaches and we can offer help and services to survivors without arresting them.
-- END –
Discussed in Hearing
Senate Standing Committee on Public Safety
Bill Author
Bill Co-Author(s):