by M Dowling, Independent Sentinel:

California rejected a bill to make it a felony to purchase 16 and 17-year-olds for sex. Instead, it will remain a misdemeanor. Some serve as little as two days in prison.

Sen. Shannon Grove’s bill would make solicitation, attempting to engage or engage in sex with a minor for money, a felony with a prison sentence ranging from 2 to 4 years, a fine not exceeding $25,000, and registration as a sex offender.

The bill would punish all those who solicit from a child, regardless of whether or not the person knew or reasonably should have known that the person solicited was a minor.

According to CBS News,the original bill, authored by Senator Shannon Grove, would make soliciting a minor for sex, agreeing to engage or engaging in any form of commercial sex with a child a felony offense with a sex offender registry required on repeat offenses.