SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California Sen. Shannon Grove wants to make buying sex with children a felony, even if the aggressor doesn’t know the child is under 18.

But opponents said her bill goes too far, and it could mean penalties for teenagers willingly having sex with each other.

Now, Grove, a Bakersfield Republican, is angry, saying her measure is being “watered down” by Senate Public Safety Committee amendments that apply the increased penalties only to solicitation involving minors under 16.

The committee went ahead and approved the changed bill over her objections, sending it to the next step, consideration by Senate Appropriations Committee.

Currently, those soliciting sex with adults or minors under 18 face misdemeanors punishable by two days to one year in jail, with a maximum fine of $10,000.

Grove’s Senate Bill 1414 would increase the penalty for those buying sex with children to make the crime a felony that could carry two to four years in prison and a maximum fine of $25,000. She would define a child as someone under 18. California law states children and teens under 18 cannot legally consent to sex.

A person convicted of soliciting sex with a minor would also need to register as a sex offender for a minimum of 10 years.

Committee amendments

Senate Public Safety on Tuesday advanced SB 1414, but with amendments over Grove’s objections.

The changes would take out the “strict liability” portion, meaning the bill would affect only those who knew the person they were soliciting was a minor, said Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley. The amendments would also specify the penalties and sex offender registration apply only to people 18 and older.

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