Committee opens hearing on bill to make buying sex a felony and require AG‑approved education or treatment

TOPEKA — The Kansas Senate Judiciary Committee opened a hearing Jan. 27 on Senate Bill 71, a measure that would make all violations for buying sexual relations a severity level 9 felony, raise the statutory minimum fine, and require courts to order convicted buyers to participate in an Attorney General‑approved education or treatment program.

The bill would make the buying‑sex offense a severity level 9 felony for all violations, increase the minimum fine from $1,200 to $2,000 while keeping the $5,000 cap, and require that, for convictions occurring on or after the effective date, courts order participation in an educational or treatment program approved by the Kansas Attorney General. The reviser's summary also said the Attorney General would be required to adopt rules and regulations for program approval, evaluation and monitoring; the Office of Judicial Administration would be consulted on program design.

Proponents including prosecutors, law enforcement associations, survivor‑service providers and nonprofits told the committee the bill targets demand by increasing consequences for buyers and creating an approved diversion/education track. Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Hegay said lawmakers have “never taken adequate steps to curb the demand side of…