California lawmakers in the Assembly Public Safety Committee on Tuesday blocked a measure that would have classified human trafficking of a minor as a serious felony under state law, an effort that attempted to keep repeat offenders behind bars and make them ineligible to be released from prison early.

The measure was halfway through the state’s legislative process, having cleared the State Senate unanimously with broad, bipartisan support. None of the six Democrats on the Assembly Public Safety Committee were willing to cast a vote on the measure Tuesday.

Republican Assemblymen Juan Alanis and Tom Lackey were the bill’s only yes votes. Following the vote, those in the audience could be heard yelling “You’re horrible!” and “You should be ashamed of yourselves!” to the committee members. Human trafficking victims embraced and sobbed in front of the dais.

source yahoo.com