As a strong advocate for keeping communities safe, Senator Tony Strickland (R–Huntington Beach) has introduced his Public Safety Legislative Package, consisting of two separate measures; one is aimed at protecting children from online extortion, and another to provide law enforcement with an additional tool to combat prostitution and sex trafficking. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department is a proud sponsor of both public safety measures.
Senate Bill 1027 is aimed at strengthening law enforcement tools to combat street prostitution and human trafficking by establishing the California Street Prostitution Issues and Options Task Force. This bill creates a multi-agency task force to examine data, review enforcement challenges, and make recommendations. The measure requires the task force to issue a public report with findings and policy recommendations to the California Attorney General and the California State Legislature by January 1, 2028. The task force would sunset on January 1, 2030.
“When SB 357 became law in 2021, law enforcement across California lost an effective enforcement tool. Since then, communities around the state, including in my district, have reported increased street prostitution and growing challenges in protecting vulnerable people and impacted neighborhoods,” said Senator Strickland.
“Our community has experienced firsthand the challenges associated with street prostitution, including impacts on neighborhood safety, local businesses, and overall quality of life. Residents have raised concerns about increased activity in certain corridors, and law enforcement has faced ongoing difficulties addressing the issue under current law. The City of Stanton appreciates Senator Strickland’s leadership on this issue and respectfully urges support for SB 1027,” said Stanton Mayor Dave Shawver.
“This has been a controversial issue since SB 357 was passed, with multiple attempts to repeal or reform the law. This task force will gather the data, look at the real-world impacts, and develop evidence-based recommendations to address sexual exploitation and human trafficking,” concluded Senator Strickland.
Senate Bill 1015, the Protecting Our Children from Online Extortion Act, creates a felony offense for individuals who coerce or use a minor to harm, groom, harass, or exploit another minor. Under current law, minors are generally excluded from extortion liability to avoid criminalizing consensual or expressive conduct between minors, creating a loophole that bad actors can exploit.
“As a father of two wonderful children, not a day goes by that I don’t think about their safety and well-being when they’re online,” said Senator Strickland. “Violent online predators are targeting our children. What begins as befriending a vulnerable child can quickly escalate into coercion, forcing victims to record themselves or engage in acts of self-harm or sexually explicit behavior. Current law limits law enforcement’s ability to hold these offenders accountable when minors are used to exploit their peers. My bill gives law enforcement a clear tool to prosecute these crimes and sends a strong message: the sexual exploitation of minors is a felony.”
“SB 1027 and SB 1015 are important steps to strengthen public safety in California. These measures improve our ability to combat human trafficking and online exploitation while ensuring data-driven solutions moving forward. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department is proud to sponsor both bills to help keep our communities safe,” said Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes.
Both measures will first go to the Senate Public Safety Committee for policy consideration, and no dates have been set yet.
“Together, these two measures send a clear message: California will not tolerate the exploitation of our children or the unchecked rise of street prostitution and human trafficking. By protecting our most vulnerable and giving law enforcement the tools they need, these measures are taking meaningful steps to keep our communities safe,” said Senator Strickland.