Senate adopts tougher sentencing options for commercial sexual activity with children

The Colorado Senate adopted Senate Bill 15 on April 17, a bill that revises penalties for offenses involving commercial sexual activity with a child and aims to increase imprisonment or structured county jail conditions where appropriate.

Senator Roberts, a sponsor, said the bill aligns state law with federal definitions, struck an outdated spousal exception, and addresses cases where judges have sometimes imposed probation rather than prison. "We believe...the only way to prevent them from happening again is to have real consequences for them," Roberts said, describing the change as victim‑driven and supported by law enforcement and district attorneys.

Sponsors explained an appropriations committee amendment that eliminated the fiscal impact of the bill (an amendment adopted in Appropriations) while directing certain sentencing changes and providing a county‑jail condition (364 days) where probation is imposed rather than Department of Corrections time. Roberts cited data that, from 2022–2025, there were 51 convictions for the specified crime and only 13 of those received a Department of Corrections sentence; the amendment aims to encourage judges to use DOC sentences or require a county‑jail term as a condition of probation.

Senator Pelton, a co‑sponsor, read testimony from victims and advocates urging passage, including an account of a near‑17‑year‑old found dead with a buyer, noting the bill sends a message about protecting children.

After committee reports and floor debate, the motion before the body to adopt the judiciary and appropriations committee reports and pass Senate Bill 15 was approved and the bill was adopted on the floor.