Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill that establishes consistent statewide age requirements for kindergarten enrollment in Ohio.

Highlights:

• Requires that no individual, without the legal privilege, should knowingly solicit, coax, entice, or lure a child under 14 years of age to accompany them in any manner (Sec. 2905.05(A)).

• Establishes 2 categories of criminal offenses based on the intent of a person’s actions (Sec. 2905.05(E)): 

• If the individual acts with a sexual motivation, the offense is a fifth-degree felony but may increase to a fourth or third-degree felony if the person has had previous convictions. 

• If the person acts with another unlawful purpose, the offense is a first-degree misdemeanor but can become a fifth-degree felony if the person has had prior convictions involving a child.

• Establishes a legal defense if the individual acted in response to an emergency where their actions were necessary to protect the child’s health and safety (Sec. 2905.05(D)).

• Authorizes prosecution to charge a person with multiple violations for the same act, but the person can only be punished for one if the charges are for the same conduct and victim (Sec. 2905.05(F)).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that establishes consistent statewide age requirements for kindergarten enrollment in Ohio.

Highlights:

• Requires that no individual, without the legal privilege, should knowingly solicit, coax, entice, or lure a child under 14 years of age to accompany them in any manner (Sec. 2905.05(A)).

• Establishes 2 categories of criminal offenses based on the intent of a person’s actions (Sec. 2905.05(E)): 

• If the individual acts with a sexual motivation, the offense is a fifth-degree felony but may increase to a fourth or third-degree felony if the person has had previous convictions. 

• If the person acts with another unlawful purpose, the offense is a first-degree misdemeanor but can become a fifth-degree felony if the person has had prior convictions involving a child.

• Establishes a legal defense if the individual acted in response to an emergency where their actions were necessary to protect the child’s health and safety (Sec. 2905.05(D)).

• Authorizes prosecution to charge a person with multiple violations for the same act, but the person can only be punished for one if the charges are for the same conduct and victim (Sec. 2905.05(F)).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes consistent statewide age requirements for kindergarten enrollment in Ohio.

Highlights:

• Requires that no individual, without the legal privilege, should knowingly solicit, coax, entice, or lure a child under 14 years of age to accompany them in any manner (Sec. 2905.05(A)).

• Establishes 2 categories of criminal offenses based on the intent of a person’s actions (Sec. 2905.05(E)): 

• If the individual acts with a sexual motivation, the offense is a fifth-degree felony but may increase to a fourth or third-degree felony if the person has had previous convictions. 

• If the person acts with another unlawful purpose, the offense is a first-degree misdemeanor but can become a fifth-degree felony if the person has had prior convictions involving a child.

• Establishes a legal defense if the individual acted in response to an emergency where their actions were necessary to protect the child’s health and safety (Sec. 2905.05(D)).

• Authorizes prosecution to charge a person with multiple violations for the same act, but the person can only be punished for one if the charges are for the same conduct and victim (Sec. 2905.05(F)).

Full Bill Text