Valley lawmakers are split on whether it should be a felony to purchase a 16- or 17- year-old for sex.

The state Assembly heard AB 379, which has divided Democrats.

Gov. Gavin Newsom was among many Democrats to support making it a felony. But leadership insisted on making changes.

The anti-sex-trafficking bill proposed by Maggy Krell, D-Sacramento, a former prosecutor, would have made it a felony to pay 16- and 17-year-olds for sex.

Democratic Assembly leaders forced Krell to remove the provision to allow her anti-sex-trafficking bill to be heard in the Assembly Public Safety committee. The stripped version passed earlier this week.

Republicans forced a vote on the Assembly floor Thursday, which would have added 16- and 17-year-olds back to the bill.

Democrats countered with amendments to remove Krell as an author, and only state “It is the intent of the legislature to adopt the strongest laws to protect 16- and-17-year-old victims and strengthen protections in support of survivors of human traffickers,” Eytan Wallace of Nexstar reported.

A vote on those amendments passed, 55-21, but some Democrats sided with Republicans. Joaquin Arambula, D-Fresno, voted against the rest of his party, saying “I stand with Maggy. The bill should have been heard in its original form.”

Esmeralda Soria, D-Fresno, a co-author of AB 379, voted for the amendments. Her office did not respond to a request for an explanation.

Other Valley Assemblymembers — David Tangipa, R-Clovis, Alexandra Macedo, R-Tulare, Stan Ellis, R-Bakersfield, and Jasmeet Bains, D-Delano — voted against the Democratic leadership amendments.

“Any sane person knows that purchasing a 16-year-old girl for sex should be a felony. How is this a debate?” Bains said.

Esparza Favors Felonies for Teen Sex Seekers

Soria is running for state Senate next year. Her opponent said seeking sex from teens should be a felony.

Nelson Esparza, a Fresno city councilmember running for state Senate District 14, agreed with the minority position.

“It should absolutely be a felony. The state legislature should be clear and unequivocal that it’s a felony when a minor, whether 17 or 12, is targeted by predators,” said Esparza, D-Fresno.