SAN DIEGO (KGTV) -- Mayor Kevin Faulconer condemned Governor Gavin Newsom’s amendment to the California sex offender law in a tweet Saturday morning.
The mayor said he is “appalled” by the changes, which give judges discretion on whether or not to list someone as a sex offender for having oral or anal sex with a minor, the Associated Press reported.
“As a parent I’m appalled that last night our governor signed a law maintaining a 24-year-old can have sex with a 14-year-old and it not be considered predatory,” Faulconer said.
RELATED: California governor signs bill changing sex offender law
“An adult who commits ANY sex act on a minor 10 years younger must be registered a sex offender. Law must be changed,” he continued.
The bill does not allow statutory rape or pedophilia.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported Friday that the bill, SB145, was signed by Newsom without comment. The bill gives judges discretion over sex-offender registration in cases involving teenagers between the ages of 14 to 17, and adults who are less than 10 years older, the Chronicle said.
The author of the bill Senator Scott Wiener, from San Fransisco replied to Faulconer's tweet, "Mr. Mayor - I'd always been under the impression that you were a supporter of the LGBTQ community. This bill does nothing more than treat LGBTQ young people the same way we've treated straight young people since 1944. Why would you oppose simple equality?"
The bill changes antiquated language that protects a man in a relationship with an underage woman, extending it to members of the LGBTQ community.
The bill goes into effect on January 1, 2021. Click here to read the bill’s full text.
