Mayor Gloria, District Attorney Stephan, Chief Wahl Highlight Implementation of State Law to Combat Sex Trafficking

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dec. 31, 2025

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SAN DIEGO - Mayor Todd Gloria was joined today by San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl and San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan to highlight the implementation of Assembly Bill 379, which will help the City combat sex trafficking and exploitation. The law takes effect tomorrow.

"Assembly Bill 379 gives our city stronger, smarter tools to address prostitution and human trafficking by holding buyers accountable and treating exploited individuals as victims," Mayor Todd Gloria said. "This law reflects our commitment to public safety, neighborhood quality of life, and human dignity. It takes effect on Thursday, and we will waste no time in implementing it here in San Diego."

AB 379 - which Mayor Gloria sponsored and championed, along with District Attorney Stephan - strengthens California's response to prostitution and human trafficking by shifting accountability toward those who create demand while treating exploited individuals as victims. The law provides law enforcement with clearer authority to intervene, improves quality of life in impacted neighborhoods, and reinforces a victim-centered approach focused on safety, dignity, and recovery.

"Buying children who under the law cannot consent to sex can only be described as slavery," said San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan. "I fought for 10 years to make sure that those who buy children for sex are held fully accountable under the law and finally that time is here with AB 379."

In part, AB 379 is a response to the impacts of Senate Bill 357, which was signed into law in 2022 and repealed a law that criminalized loitering with the intent to commit prostitution.

"Past legislation significantly limited our ability to address prostitution and human trafficking. Assembly Bill 379 changes that," Police Chief Wahl said. "This law gives our officers the tools they need to intervene, protect victims, particularly minors, and hold offenders accountable. We are grateful to our elected leaders for recognizing the urgency of this issue and supporting legislation that strengthens enforcement and prioritizes victim services."

Specifically, the law makes it crime for any person to loiter in a public place with the intent to purchase commercial sex. The law also creates a Survivor Support Fund to provide grants to community-based organizations that provide direct services and outreach to victims of sex trafficking and exploitation. Finally, the law increases civil penalties for specific human trafficking-related violations by businesses.

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