LOS ANGELES — Today, the California Senate unanimously passed legislation City Attorney Feldstein Soto sponsored to ensure child sexual exploitation and abuse laws keep pace with evolving technology. SB 1276: Crimes: sexual exploitation of a child, introduced by Senator Susan Rubio, expands the definition of “sexual exploitation” under the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (“CANRA”) law to include livestreaming, and A.I.-generated and digitally-altered content that depicts a minor being sexually exploited.
“I was proud to sponsor SB 1276 because it not only strengthens protections for our most vulnerable victims, it closes loopholes to ensure that California law keeps pace with evolving technological tactics used by predators,” said Hydee Feldstein Soto, Los Angeles City Attorney. “This unanimous vote sends the message that Californians stand united to protect children from sexual exploitation and abuse wherever and however it occurs.”
Current laws focus on the creation, distribution, and possession of material depicting the sexual exploitation of a child, while CANRA defines "sexual exploitation" for purposes of mandatory reporting by professionals required to report suspected child abuse or neglect. Differences between these definitions can create ambiguity for mandated reporters and challenges for those responsible for enforcing the law. SB 1276 resolves this inconsistency by aligning these definitions, ensuring that the conduct triggering mandatory reporting obligations corresponds with the criminal statute addressing sexual exploitation. This clarification will promote more consistent reporting, strengthen investigative efforts, and support effective prosecution of crimes involving the exploitation of children.
Last year, Feldstein Soto and Rubio partnered on SB 680 to close gaps in the law that allowed some sexual predators of teenage girls to avoid mandatory registration on California’s sex offender list. SB 1276 furthers their shared commitment to protecting our children and holding predators accountable.
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Hydee Feldstein Soto is the 43rd Los Angeles City Attorney, elected in November 2022 and sworn into office in December 2022. Her team of nearly 1,000 legal professionals, including 500+ attorneys, carries out legal work for the City of Los Angeles at her direction and under her supervision. She is the first female City Attorney in L.A. history.